Richard Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos
Musikalische Leitung
Johannes Debus
Theseus (Haushofmeister)
Wolfram Koch
Actor
Wolfram Koch was born in Paris in 1962 and trained at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. His first engagements took him to the Freie Volksbühne, the Schiller Theater Berlin and the Schauspiel Frankfurt. From 1995 to 2000 he was a permanent member of the ensemble at the Schauspielhaus Bochum, since then he has worked freelance at the Schauspiel Frankfurt, the Thalia Theater Hamburg, the Schauspielhaus Zürich and the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, among others. Wolfram Koch has performed regularly for Dimiter Gotscheff and, since his role as the servant Mosca in Volpone, has formed “a new dream couple of the stage” with Samuel Finzi (Frankfurter Rundschau). The artistic quartet Koch, Finzi, Gotscheff and Almut Zilcher received the Berlin Theater Prize in 2011 for their “epoch-making performances in which great acting is combined with extraordinary, intelligent approaches to the material”. Samuel Finzi and Wolfram Koch were awarded the 2015 Gertrud Eysoldt Ring for their roles in Waiting for Godot (directed by Ivan Panteleev, invited to the 2015 Theatertreffen).
Koch made his cinema debut as a 13-year-old in Voytech Jasny's adaptation of the novel Views of a Clown (1975). His films include Draußen ist Sommer (2011, directed by Frederik Jehn), Ein großes Versprechen (2019, directed by Wendla Nölle) and Seneca (2021, directed by Robert Schwentke). Koch is also active as an audio book narrator and has played numerous roles in film and television. In October 2013, Hessischer Rundfunk presented him as the new Tatort commissioner for his home town of Frankfurt am Main, which he played until 2024.
photo: Klaus Dyba
Ariadne
Anja Kampe
Soprano
Birthplace:
Zella-Mehlis, Germany
Studies:
Vocal training in Dresden and Turin
Prizes:
Appointment as Bavarian Kammersängerin (2018)
Important parts:
Leonore (Fidelio), Brünnhilde (Ring des Nibelungen), Isolde (Tristan und Isolde), Ortrud (Lohengrin), Kundry (Parsifal), Sieglinde (Walküre), Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), Katerina Ismailova (Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk), Floria Tosca (Tosca), Giorgetta (Tabarro), Minnie (Fanciulla del West), Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos), Carlotta (Die Gezeichneten), et al.
Stages:
Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Zurich Opera House, Opéra National de Paris, Bayreuth Festival, Ruhrtriennale, Salzburg Easter Festival, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro Real in Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro di San Carlo, Budapest Wagner Days, Metropolitan Opera New York, Washington National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Glyndebourne Festival, et al.
Cooperations with directors:
Lydia Steier, Calixto Bieito, Willy Decker, Claus Guth, Andreas Homoki, Peter Konwitschny, Harry Kupfer, Dimitri Tschnerniakow, Richard Jones, Tatjana Gürbaca, et al.
Cooperations with conductors:
Zubin Mehta, Kirill Petrenko, Daniel Barenboim, Philippe Jordan, Christian Thielemann, Claudio Abbado, Semyon Bychkov, James Conlon, Mark Elder, Adam Fischer, Daniele Gatti, Valery Gergiev, Daniel Harding, Marek Janowski, Simone Young, Vladimir Jurowski, Jesùs López-Cobos, Fabio Luisi, Antonio Pappano, Riccardo Muti, Kent Nagano, Andris Nelsons, Kazushi Ono, Donald Runnicles, Franz Welser-Möst, et al.
photo: Sasha Vasiljev
Zerbinetta
Nadezhda Pavlova
Soprano
Nadezhda Pavlova startete ihre Karriere in der russischen Republik Karelien, zuerst als Studentin an der Musikhochschule der Hauptstadt Petrosawodsk, dann als Solistin am dortigen Opernhaus. Kurz nachdem Teodor Currentzis zum Künstlerischen Leiter der Staatsoper Perm ernannt wurde, wechselte die Sopranistin ebenfalls nach Perm, wo sie seit 2012/13 Solistin ist.
Für ihre Interpretation der Titelrolle von „La traviata“ erhielt Nadezhda Pavlova 2017 die „Goldene Maske“, den bedeutendsten russischen Theaterpreis. Unter Currentzis sang sie diese Partie im Oktober 2018 in einer konzertanten Aufführung auch in der Elbphilharmonie, wofür sie vom Publikum mit Standing Ovations bedacht wurde. Sie ist regelmäßig als Gastsolistin am Musiktheater zu erleben, u.a. auch an der Lettischen National¬oper. Auf der Opernbühne feierte sie Erfolge in Partien wie der Titelrolle in Donizettis „Lucia di Lammermoor“, in Poulencs „Les dialogues des Carmélites“ und Honeggers „Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher“. Ihr Konzertrepertoire umfasst Werke von Bach bis Strauss sowie Liederzyklen russischer Komponisten. Nadezhda Pavlova ist Preisträgerin mehrerer internationaler Wettbewerbe sowie Honored Artist der russischen Föderation.
More about Nadezhda Pavlova
Bacchus
Jamez McCorkle
Tenor
Studies:
Curtis Institute of Music,
Mannes College, The New School for Music,
Loyola University, New Orleans
International Opera Studio in Zurich
Young Artist Program of the Salzburg Festival in 2017
Prizes:
Finalist in the Neue Stimmen competition in 2019, winner awards and competitions including the George London Competition, Sullivan Foundation, Brava! Opera Competition, National Opera Association Vocal Competition and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Gulf Coast Region
Important parts:
Duke of Cornwall (Lear), Omar (Omar), Telemaco (Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria), Peter the Honeyman (Porgy and Bess), Bacchus (Ariadne auf Naxos), Leonard Woolfe (The Hours), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Lensky (Eugene Onegin), Froh (Das Rheingold), et al.
Stages:
San Francisco Opera, Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, Spoleto Festival, LA Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Vlaamse Opera, Carolina Performing Arts Center, San Francisco Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Theatre Basel, Metropolitan Opera, et al.
Cooperations with conductors:
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Fabio Luisi, et al.
photo: Sophia Germer
Musiklehrer
Martin Gantner
Bariton
Birthplace:
Freiburg, Germany
Studies:
Singing at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe
Prizes:
Appointment as Kammersänger (Bayerische Staatsoper München, 2005)
Important parts:
Telramund (Lohengrin), Beckmesser (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), Amfortas (Parsifal), Kurwenal (Tristan und Isolde), Wolfram (Tannhäuser), Kaiser Overall (Der Kaiser von Atlantis), Diktator (Der Diktator), Cardillac (Cardillac), Jochanaan (Salome), Pizarro (Fidelio), Faninal (Der Rosenkavalier), Posa (Don Carlo), Il Conte d‘Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Barak (Die Frau ohne Schatten), et al.
Stages:
Bayerische Staatsoper, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Teatro alla Scala Mailand, Opéra Bastille, Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company, Opernhaus Zürich, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, New National Theatre Tokyo, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayreuth Festival, Salzburg Festival, et al.
Cooperation with directors:
David Alden, Andreas Homoki, Arpad Schilling, Herbert Wernicke, Maximilian Schell, Martin Kusej, David Pountney, Tim Albery, Jossi Wieler, David Herrmann, Claus Guth, et al.
Cooperation with conductors:
Zubin Mehta, Christian Thielemann, Kent Nagano, Semyon Bychkov, James Conlon, Peter Schneider, Fabio Luisi, Gianandrea Noseda, Bertrand de Billy, Philippe Jordan, Bernard Haitink, Kirill Petrenko, Simone Young, Daniel Barenboim, et al.
photo: Tom Jasny
Komponist
Annika Schlicht
mezzo-soprano
Birthplace:
Stuttgart, Germany
Studies:
Singing at Hochschule für Musik „Hanns Eisler“ in Berlin with Prof. Renate Faltin
Master class:
with Julia Varady, KS Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, KS Brigitte Fassbaender, KS Deborah Polaski und Patricia McCaffrey
Prizes:
3rd prize at international Wilhelm Stenhammar Competition in Sweden (2016), 2nd prize at Anneliese Rothenberger Wettbewerb (2013), Grand Prix an several special prizes at Giulio Perotti Competition (2012), 3rd Liedpreis and Förderpreis des Bronnbach e.V. at DEBUT Wettbewerb (2012), scholarship holder of Liz-Mohn Kultur Stiftung, scholarship holder of Richard-Wagner-Verband
Important parts:
Adriano (Rienzi), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Olga (Eugen Onegin), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Auntie (Peter Grimes), Försterin (Das schlaue Füchslein), 1. Magd (Elektra), Page (Salome), Flosshilde (Das Rheingold, Götterdämmerung), Siegrune (Die Walküre), Contessa di Coigny (Andrea Chenier), Mercedes (Carmen), Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos), 2. Dame (Die Zauberflöte), u. a.
Stages:
Deutschen Oper Berlin, Deutschen Oper am Rhein, Bayerische Staatsoper, Opera Bastille, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Berlin, Bergen International Festival, Salzburger Festspiele u. a.
Cooperation with directors:
Harry Kupfer, Hans Neuenfels, Luc Bondy, Claus Guth, Dmitri Tcherniakov und Johannes Erath, u. a.
Cooperation with conductors:
Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Metha, Donald Runnicles, Alondra de la Parra, Enrique Mazzola, Asher Fisch, Edward Gardner, Ingo Metzmacher, Christopher Moulds, Stefan Soltesz, Sebastian Weigle, u. a.
photo: Simon Pauly
Ein Offizier
Colin Aikins
Perückenmacher
William Desbiens
Baritone
Birthplace:
Québec City, Canada
Studies:
Bachelor in voice. Mannes School of Music in New York, Mascarade Emerging artist program
Prizes:
Finals at the Paris opera competition at the Palais Garnier
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Member of the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera from the season 2024/25
Important parts:
Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Schaunard (La Boheme), Conte almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Dandini (La cenerentola)
Stages:
Opéra de Québec, Teatro la fenice, Theater und Orchester Heidelberg, Landestheater Linz, Palais Garnier
Cooperation with directors:
Robert Lepage, Fabricio Melano, Damon Nestor Ploumis, Marie Lambert-Le Bihan, Jean-Romain Vesperini, Guillermo
Cooperation with conductors:
Wyn Davis, Jonathan Santagada, Elias Grandy, Kens Lui, Claudio Novati, Thomas Rösner, Jorge Parodi
More about William Desbiens
photo: Jörn Kipping
Betrunkener Gast (Lakai)
Keith Klein
Bass-Baritone
Birthplace:
Overland Park, Kansas, United States of America
Studies:
Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music
Masters Degree in Vocal Performance, Florida State University
Prizes:
Laffont Competition Regional 3rd Place Winner, Metropolitan Opera, 2024
Laffont Competition District Winner, Metropolitan Opera, 2024
Barbara and Stanley Richman Memorial Award, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, 2022
NATS SouthEast Conference- Best College Male Florida State University, 2019
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Member of the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera since the season 2024/25
Important parts:
Dr. Grenville (La Traviata), Colline (La boheme), Sparafucille (Rigoletto), Angelotti (Tosca), Notary (Der Rosenkavalier) Dr. Podsnap (Awakenings)
Stages:
Santa Fe/Crosby Theatre, Opera Colorado/Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Florida Grand Opera/ Adrienne Arscht Theatre, Lyric Opera of Kansas City/Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Opera Theatre of St. Louis/ Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts
Cooperation with directors:
James Robinson, Patricia Racette, Chia Patiño, Matthew Lata
Cooperation with conductors:
Patrick Summers, Roberto Kalb, Daniella Candillari, Benton Hess
More about Keith Klein
photo: Jörn Kipping
Harlekin
Nicholas Mogg
Baritone
Birthplace:
Manchester, United Kingdom
Studies:
International Opera Studio, Hamburg State Opera; National Opera Studio, London; Royal Academy of Music, London; Clare College, University Cambridge
Masterclass:
with Sir Simon Keenlyside, Christian Gerhaher, Malcolm Martineau, Brigitte Fassbaender, Gerald Finley, Sir Thomas Allen
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Ensemble member of the Hamburg State Opera since the 2022/23 season
Was Member of the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera from 2019/20 to 2022/23
Prizes:
Royal Over-Seas League Singers’ Section; Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Award
Roles:
Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Ned Keene (Peter Grimes), Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Steward (Flight), Herr Peachum (Die Dreigroschenoper), Melisso (Alcina), Jupiter (Orphée aux Enfers), et al.
Stages:
Hamburg State Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie de Paris, Het Concertgebouw, Festival Aix, Elbphilharmonie, Theater Lübeck
Cooperation with directors:
Keith Warner, Herbert Fritsch, Tim Albery, Orpha Phelan, Richard Jones
Cooperation with conductors:
Robin Ticciati, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Ton Koopman, Sir Roger Norrington, Yoel Gamzou, Francesco Ivan Ciampa, Alan Gilbert, Kent Nagano
More about Nicholas Mogg
photo: linden.shots
Scaramuccio
Florian Panzieri
Tenor
Birthplace:
Paris, France
Studies:
History and Politics, University of Warwick
Singing, Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Member of the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera since the 2022/2023 season
Important parts:
Peter Quint (The Turn of the Screw), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Primo Pastore (Orfeo), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Berthold (Scoring a Century), Erasmus (Silvesternacht), 1. und 3. Vorarbeiter (Lady Macbeth von Mzensk), Un Venditore di Canzonette (Il trittico), et al.
Stages:
Garsington Opera, Reggio Emilia Teatro Valli, The Merry Opera, British Youth Opera, Royal Opera House London, Staatsoper Hamburg, et al.
Cooperations with directors:
Paul Curran, John Caird, Keith Warner, Fabio Condemi, Axel Ranisch, Mart Van Berckel, et al.
Cooperations with conductors:
Kent Negano, Giampaolo Bisanti, Francesco Bossaglia, Ivan Repusic, et al.
More about Florian Panzieri
photo: Benjamin Reason
Brighella
Daniel Kluge
Tenor
Birthplace:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Studies:
Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe with Klaus Dieter Kern
Master classes:
with Roman Trekel, Julia Varady and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as well as master classes for „Liedgesang“ with Markus Hadulla, Mitsuko Shirai and Hartmut Höll
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Ensemble member of the Hamburg State Opera since the 2019/20 season
Important parts:
Normanno (Lucia di Lammermoor), Abdallo (Nabucco), Remendado (Carmen), Flavio (Norma), Knappe und 1. Gralsritter (Parsifal), Kilian (Freischütz), Dr. Blind (Die Fledermaus), Spoletta (Tosca), Schreiber (Chowanschtschina), Jacquino (Fidelio), Ein Soldat (Reigen), Chick (Der Schaum der Tage), Borsa (Rigoletto), Knusperhexe (Hänsel und Gretel), Orpheus (Orpheus in der Unterwelt), Pedrillo (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Truffaldino (Die Liebe zu drei Orangen), Balakin (Charodeyka), Max (Der Freischütz), Tanzmeister (Ariadne auf Naxos), Steuermann (Der fliegende Holländer), Vierter Jude (Salome), et al.
Stages:
Staatsoper Stuttgart, Staatsoper Wien, Volksoper Wien, Stadttheater Bern, Aalto-Theater Essen, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Nationaltheater Mannheim, Opéra National de Lyon, et al.
Cooperation with directors:
Jossi Wieler, Sergio Morabito, Kirill Serebrennikov, Nicola Hümpel , Tobias Hoheisel, Imogen Kogge, Armin Petras, Demis Volpi, Axel Ranisch, et al.
Cooperation with conductors:
Sylvain Cambreling, Georg Fritzsch, Roland Kluttig, Giacomo Sagripanti, Johannes Witt, Hans Christoph Bünger, Kirill Karabits, Willem Wentzel, Alejo Pérez, Christopher Schmitz, et al.
photo: Martina Cyman
Najade
Olivia Warburton
Soprano
Birthplace:
Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Studies:
Royal Academy of Music, London (Bachelor of Music with honours, Master of Arts with distinction, Artist Diploma in Opera studies), Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Köln (Erasmus MA), Georg Solti Accademia, Tuscany.
Masterclasses:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme), Richard Bonynge (Georg Solti Accademia), Barbara Frittoli (Georg Solti Accademia), Rachel Willis-Sørensen (Royal Academy of Music), Florian Boesch (Royal Academy of Music).
Prizes:
Winner of Arthur Bucher Memorial Prize for highest mark in final recital, Prize winner at the 1st International Haydn Competition in Vienna, Finalist in Renata Tebaldi Competition 2022.
Important parts:
Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Euridice (L’anima del Filosofo), Anne Frank (Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank), Teseo (Teseo), Valetto (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen), L’enfant (L’enfant et les sortilèges), et al.
Stages:
Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar; Festival d’Aix en Provence; The Grange Festival; Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris; London Handel Festival; Halle Handel Festival; Wigmore Hall, London; Oxford Lieder Festival; The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace; Aldeburgh Festival; Lincoln Centre, New York; Royal Festival Hall, London et al.
Cooperations with directors:
Simon McBurney, Tim Supple, Jack Furness, Jonathan Moore, Kay Kuntze, Martin Duncan, Olivia Fuchs, Oliver Platt.
Cooperations with conductors:
John Adams, Masaaki Suzuki, Jane Glover, Gregor Bühl, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Jan Pascal Tortelier, Finnegan Downie Dear, Laurence Cummings, Victor Jacob, Ruben Gazarian, et al.
More about Olivia Warburton
photo: Elena Ramirez
Dryade
Aebh Kelly
Mezzo-Soprano
Birthplace:
Dublin, Ireland
Studies:
Mascarade Emerging Artists, Florence
Georg Solti Accademia
Irish National Opera Studio
Royal Irish Academy of Music (BMus)
Master class:
Richard Bonynge, Aigul Akhmetshina, Freddie De Tommaso (Georg Solti Accademia), Vivica Genaux (Mascarade Emerging Artists), Tara Erraught, Paula Murrihy (Irish National Opera), Bernarda Fink (Neue Stimmen Masterclass), Ann Murray (Royal Irish Academy of Music)
Prizes:
2nd Prize & Dermot Troy Prize (Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition)
Final Round (Neue Stimmen)
1st Prize (Maura Dowdall Concerto Competition)
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Member of the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera since the 2024/2025 season.
Important parts:
Dido (Dido & Aeneas), Flora (La Traviata), Olga (Eugene Onegin), Popova (The Bear), Endimione (La Calisto), Catherine (A Thing I Cannot Name), Melissa (La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina)
Stages:
Teatro La Fenice, Theater und Orchester Heidelberg, Teatr Wielki Opera, National Opera House Wexford, Cork Opera House, National Concert Hall Dublin
Cooperation with directors:
Marie Lambert-Le Bihan, Noa Naamat, Jean-Romain Vesperini, Pedro Ribiero, Federico Grazzini, Olivia Fuchs, Sonja Trebes
Cooperation with conductors:
Laurent Wagner, Roland Kluttig, Jonathan Santagada, Jonathan Bloxham, Wyn Davies, Christian Curnyn, Fergus Sheil, Killian Farrel, David Brophy, Jonathan Cole-Swinard
More about Aebh Kelly
photo: Jörn Kipping
Echo
Marie Maidowski
Soprano
Birthplace:
Berlin, Germany
Studies:
Bachelor in singing and music theater with KS Prof. Julie Kaufmann at the Berlin University of the Arts Master in concert singing with KS Prof. Christiane Iven at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich
Master class:
19th Lotte Lehmann Week in Perleberg (2016)
Masterclass with Prof. Marga Schiml in Switzerland (2019)
Masterclass with Prof. Gabriele Lechner in Baden near Vienna (2020)
Prizes:
Scholarship from the Young Musicians Foundation in Mühlheim (2018) Scholarship from the Cusanuswerk study grant (since 2020) Finalist at the German National Singing Competition in the Junior Competition category (2020) Scholarship from the German Stage Association (2023) Staetshuys Fund Prize and Van Amelsvoort Prize for the best interpretation of a work by a female composer at the International Vocal Competition 2023 in `s Hertogenbosch with Lied Duo partner YoungSeob Jeon
Audience and jury prize at the HIDALGO Song Prize 2023 with Lied Duo partner YoungSeob Jeon
Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Member of the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera from the 2024/25 season
Important parts:
Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Nurse (Alzheim), Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), Silvia (L'isola disabitata), Lovis (Der Baumgeist), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Daphne Colgate (Georgia Bottoms), et al.
Stages:
Staatstheater Cottbus, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Cuvilliéstheater Munich, et al.
Cooperation with directors:
Frank Hilbrich, Bernarda Horres, Tomo Sugao, Maximilian Berling, Isabel Hindersin, et al.
Cooperation with conductors:
Errico Fresis, Johannes Zurl, Johanna Soller, Aris Blettenberg, Henri Bonamy, Gad Kadosh, et al.
More about Marie Maidowski
photo: Jörn Kipping
Orchester
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg
Orchestra
The Philharmonic State Orchestra is Hamburg’s largest and oldest orchestra, looking back on many years of musical history. When the “Philharmonic Orchestra” and the “Orchestra of the Hamburg Municipal Theatre” merged in 1934, two tradition-steeped orchestras combined. Philharmonic concerts have been performed in Hamburg since 1828, artists such as Clara Schumann, Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms being regular guests of the Philharmonic Society. The history of the opera company goes back even further: Hamburg has been home to musical theatre since 1678, even if a regular opera or theatre orchestra was only formed later. To this day, the Philharmonic State Orchestra has embodied the sound of the Hansa City, a concert and opera orchestra in one.
During its long history, the orchestra encountered great artist personalities. Apart from composers of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, such as Telemann, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Mahler, Prokofiev and Stravinsky, since the 20th century chief conductors such as Karl Muck, Joseph Keilberth, Eugen Jochum, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Horst Stein, Aldo Ceccato, Christoph von Dohnányi, Gerd Albrecht, Ingo Metzmacher and Simone Young have shaped the orchestra’s sound. Renowned conductors of the pre-war era such as Otto Klemperer, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, Karl Böhm and Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt gave brilliant performances, as did outstanding conductors of our times: suffice it to mention Christian Thielemann, Semyon Bychkov, Kirill Petrenko, Adam Fischer and Sir Roger Norrington.
Starting with the 2015/2016 season, Kent Nagano has taken on the position of Hamburg’s General Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Philharmonic State Orchestra and the Hamburg State Opera and since June 2023 also its honorary conductor. In his first season Kent Nagano initiated a new project, the Philharmonic Academy, focusing on experimentation and chamber music. In 2016, Nagano and the Philharmonic toured South America, followed by concert tours to Spain and Japan in 2019, and in the spring of 2023, the Philharmonic State Orchestra made its debut at New York's Carnegie Hall under his direction, which was acclaimed by audiences and the press. Since 2017 Kent Nagano and the Philharmonic State Orchestra have continued the traditional Philharmonic Concerts at the new Elbphilharmonie, for which they commissioned Jörg Widmann to compose the oratorio ARCHE, which was given its world premiere during the hall’s opening festivities. The concert recording has been released by ECM, for which Widmann received the OPUS KLASSIK as Composer of the Year 2019, and ARCHE was performed again in 2023 to great acclaim.
The Philharmonic State Orchestra offers approximately 35 concerts per season and performs more than 240 performances per year at the Hamburg State Opera and the Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier, making it Hamburg’s busiest orchestra. The stylistic bandwidth covered by the 140 musicians, ranging from historically informed performance practice to contemporary works and including concert, opera and ballet repertoire, is unique throughout Germany. Chamber Music has a long tradition at the Philharmonic State Orchestra: what began in 1929 with a concert series for chamber orchestra has been continued since 1968 by a series of chamber music only.
In 2008 Simone Young and the Philharmonic State Orchestra won the Brahms Award of the Schleswig-Holstein Brahms Society. The orchestra has recorded the complete Ring by Wagner as well as the complete symphonies of Johannes Brahms and Anton Bruckner – the latter in the rarely-performed original versions – as well as works by Mahler, Hindemith and Berg, and has released DVDs of opera and ballet productions by Hosokawa, Offenbach, Reimann, Auerbach, J.S. Bach, Puccini, Poulenc and Weber.
The members of the Philharmonic State Orchestra feel equally beholden to Hamburg’s musical tradition and responsible for the city’s artistic future. Since 1978 the musicians have been participating in education programmes in Hamburg’s schools. Today, the orchestra maintains a broad education programme, including school and kindergarten visits, patronage for music projects, introductory events for children and family concerts. The orchestra’s own academy prepares young musicians for their professional careers. The Philharmonic’s musicians thereby make an equally enjoyable and valuable contribution to tomorrow’s music education in the music metropolis of Hamburg.
More about Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg
photo: Foto: Felix Broede
