Of Austrian descent, Christian Germaine (stage name for Erich Fackert) studied clarinet, saxophone and singing in Mannheim followed by advanced studies in conducting at the Eastman School of Music, USA.

Following master classes with Helmuth Rilling and Roger Norrington he was accepted as guest student of Daniel Barenboim at the German State Opera, Berlin.

His family comes from a long line of Viennese musicians and as he says, "The music of Vienna is in my veins".

He is equally at home conducting opera and operetta and has also distinguished himself in the field of contemporary music.

He resides both in Europe and Australia to pursue his work as conductor and soloist.

In the year 2000 he gave the Australian premiere of works by Japanese composer Karen Tanaka and in 2001 conducted at London's prestigious Dukes Hall at the Royal Academy of Music.

Christian Germaine made his debut with Melbourne City Opera, Melbourne's major Opera Company, in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, in July 2002. His enormous success was such that he was engaged again to conduct La Boheme, three short operas at Chapel off Chapel, the leading edge new music venue of Australia plus a tour of regional Victoria as conductor of Tosca, culminating in a fully staged performance at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival.

His operatic repertoire includes operas such as Haensel und Gretel, Il Tabaro, Gianni Schicchi, I Pagliacci, Tosca, Die Fledermaus, La Boheme, A Hand of Bridge, The Obelisk, The Widow of Ephesus, Carmen, Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, La Traviata, and The Merry Widow. In November 2006 Christian Germaine conducted the Australian premiere of Il Corsaro and the Australian premiere of Attila in 2007.

In early 2007 Christian Germaine released Curtain Up, where he sings Granada, Panis Angelicus, and excerps from Il Trovatore and The Magic Flute.

His success conducting Haensel und Gretel and Die Fledermaus with the Suedboehmische Kammerphilharmonie Budweis was such that he was invited back to guest conduct at their annual concert series in May 2005.

From 2002 until 2008 Christian Germaine was Principal Conductor with Melbourne City Opera. He gave his operatic debut in the role of Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Melbourne City Opera in June 2007 to great acclaim and was Musical Director and soloist in the role of Uldino in the production of Attila at the BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square.

In October 2007 Christian Germaine stepped in with two days notice to conduct eight shows of the world famous musical Les Miserables for the Panorama Theatre Company.