Bernd Purkrabek studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München (Lichtgestaltung). Lighting design includes Der Prinz von Homburg, I vespri siciliani, Macbeth, Jenůfa, La fanciulla del West, Charodejka, Peter Grimes and Rusalka with Christof Loy; Lazarus, Sehnsucht Meer, Saul, Jephtha and Orlando with Claus Guth; Der Ferne Klang and Der fliegende Holländer with Florentine Klepper; Suster Bertken and Troparion with Pierre Audi; Così fan tutte, Rosenkavalier and Eine Florentinische Tragödie/Gianni Schicchi with Jan Philipp Gloger; The Queen of Spades with Stefan Herheim; Don Pasquale, Don Giovanni and Agrippina with Mariame Clément; Rusalka with Nicola Raab; La Vestale with Johannes Erath; and Porgy and Bess with Matthew Wild. He was nominated for the Knight of Illumination Award 2017 for Così fan tutte with The Royal Opera.