Jonas Alber
Encyclopedia
Jonas Alber is a Berlin-based German conductor.
and qualified as a conductor at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna. He was awarded a scholarship by the Herbert von Karajan Foundation in 1995. Three years later, he was appointed General Music Director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig
, thus becoming Germany’s youngest conductor in a position of this kind. He remained at this post until summer 2007.
, the WDR Sinfonieorchester Cologne, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken, the MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, the Dresdner Philharmoniker, Hamburger Symphoniker
, and Bochumer Symphoniker. He has also conducted the Niederösterreichisches Tonkünstlerorchester Vienna, the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Flemish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Belgique, the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic, and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
.
In 2006 Maestro Alber made his debut with The Hague Residentie Orkest at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, performing Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony. This was followed by an immediate reengagement the following summer. 2006 also saw his debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Birmingham Symphony Hall and an appearance at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa.
Recent engagements (2008–2009) have included guest appearances with the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen, the Kristiansand Symfoniorkester, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lille, the Brussels Philharmonic, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra London. He will make his Japan debut with the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2009.
Additional operatic credits include a production of Schreker’s Der Schatzgräber at the Frankfurt Opera and a revival performance of Peter Grimes. Maestro Alber began a collaboration with the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg
with Iphigenie in Aulis, which was followed by productions of Norma, Nabucco and Der Freischütz. He made his debut at the Berlin Opera
with Carmina Burana and at the Vienna Volksoper with Franz Schmidt's Notre Dame.
In March 2007 Maestro Alber conducted the world premiere of Benoît Mernier’s Frühlings Erwachen at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels and in summer 2007 a highly acclaimed concert version of Fidelio with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
. He conducted the world premiere of Mats Larsson Gothe's opera Poet & Prophetess at Norrlands Operan in March 2008, which was followed by a second production of that work at Cape Town Opera
in October 2008.
Opera in 3 acts (2007)
Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of
the Opéra de la Monnaie, Brussels
(Live DVD, Cypres Records, 2007)
Winner: diapason d’or, 2008
Richard Strauss
A Hero's Life op.40
Death and Transfiguration op.24
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2007)
Richard Strauss
An Alpine Symphony op.64
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2006)
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2 C minor, Resurrection
Cecilia Lindwall, Soprano
Kathrin Hildebrandt, Alto
Choirs of the Braunschweig State Theatre
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, 2005)
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 3 D minor
Brigitte Pinter, Alto
Choirs of the Braunschweig State Theatre
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2004)
César Franck
Symphony D minor
Le chasseur maudit
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2003)
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Symphony No. 3 A minor, Scottish
The Hebrides Overture
Richard Strauss
Macbeth
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 2001)
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 1 B-flat major, Spring
Symphony No. 4 D minor
Overture to Manfred
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 2000)
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 2 C major
Symphony No. 3 E-flat major, Rhenish
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 1999-2000)
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 D major
Finlandia
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 1998)
Education and early career
Alber studied violin and conducting in FreiburgFreiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
and qualified as a conductor at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna. He was awarded a scholarship by the Herbert von Karajan Foundation in 1995. Three years later, he was appointed General Music Director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig
Staatstheater Braunschweig
Staatstheater Braunschweig is a theatre and opera house in Braunschweig, Germany. Joachim Klement has been the intendant there since 2010.The Staatstheater comprises music theatre, ballet and theatre....
, thus becoming Germany’s youngest conductor in a position of this kind. He remained at this post until summer 2007.
Concert career
Alber has led many renowned orchestras. In Germany, these include the Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraBavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, in German Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks is the internationally renowned orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk , based in Munich, Germany. It is one of the three principal orchestras in the city of Munich, along with the Munich Philharmonic...
, the WDR Sinfonieorchester Cologne, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken, the MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, the Dresdner Philharmoniker, Hamburger Symphoniker
Hamburger Symphoniker
The Hamburger Symphoniker is a German orchestra based in Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 1957, it is one of the city's three largest orchestras...
, and Bochumer Symphoniker. He has also conducted the Niederösterreichisches Tonkünstlerorchester Vienna, the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Flemish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Belgique, the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra is the national orchestra of Armenia. It was founded in 1925 as a symphony orchestra of the Yerevan State Conservatory. Now it performs in Khachaturian Hall, Yerevan....
, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic, and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
.
In 2006 Maestro Alber made his debut with The Hague Residentie Orkest at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, performing Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony. This was followed by an immediate reengagement the following summer. 2006 also saw his debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Birmingham Symphony Hall and an appearance at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa.
Recent engagements (2008–2009) have included guest appearances with the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen, the Kristiansand Symfoniorkester, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lille, the Brussels Philharmonic, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra London. He will make his Japan debut with the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2009.
Operatic career
Alber’s operatic repertoire ranges from the traditional (like Mozart, Puccini, and Richard Strauss) to new productions and premieres. He has given highly celebrated performances of such staples as Der Ring des Nibelungen as well as delivered first productions of several operas, including Britten’s Peter Grimes, Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg, Korngold’s Die tote Stadt, Ullmann’s Kaiser von Atlantis, Max von Schilling’s Mona Lisa, d'Albert's Tiefland, and Janáček’s The Makropulos Case. His German premieres of Philippe Boesmans’ operas Reigen, Wintermärchen, and Julie, and of Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito, with newly composed recitative texts by Manfred Trojahn (during the 2006 Mozart Year), were internationally commended. He also won international acclaim for his world premiere production of Siegfried Matthus' opera Cosima at the Braunschweig State Theatre.Additional operatic credits include a production of Schreker’s Der Schatzgräber at the Frankfurt Opera and a revival performance of Peter Grimes. Maestro Alber began a collaboration with the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg
Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg
Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg is an international opera festival for young talented singers, founded and directed by German composer Siegfried Matthus. It takes place every summer at the historical Rheinsberg Castle, in Brandenburg...
with Iphigenie in Aulis, which was followed by productions of Norma, Nabucco and Der Freischütz. He made his debut at the Berlin Opera
Berlin Opera
Berlin Opera usually refers to one of the three opera houses in Berlin, Germany:*Staatsoper Unter den Linden : Opened in 1742 as Königliche Hofoper , sometimes also known as Lindenoper , renamed State Opera in 1918, destroyed during World War II...
with Carmina Burana and at the Vienna Volksoper with Franz Schmidt's Notre Dame.
In March 2007 Maestro Alber conducted the world premiere of Benoît Mernier’s Frühlings Erwachen at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels and in summer 2007 a highly acclaimed concert version of Fidelio with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
. He conducted the world premiere of Mats Larsson Gothe's opera Poet & Prophetess at Norrlands Operan in March 2008, which was followed by a second production of that work at Cape Town Opera
Cape Town Opera
Cape Town Opera is a professional opera company located in Cape Town, South Africa. CTO was founded in 1999 by the management and staff of the former South Africa Arts Council Opera...
in October 2008.
Selected discography
Benoît Mernier - Frühlings ErwachenOpera in 3 acts (2007)
Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of
the Opéra de la Monnaie, Brussels
(Live DVD, Cypres Records, 2007)
Winner: diapason d’or, 2008
Richard Strauss
A Hero's Life op.40
Death and Transfiguration op.24
Braunschweig State Orchestra
Staatsorchester Braunschweig
The Staatsorchester Braunschweig is a German orchestra. It was founded in 1587 by Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel as his court orchestra. It worked with Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss. It lost its independence as a court orchestra in 1918 and became the orchestra of the Braunschweiger...
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2007)
Richard Strauss
An Alpine Symphony op.64
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2006)
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2 C minor, Resurrection
Cecilia Lindwall, Soprano
Kathrin Hildebrandt, Alto
Choirs of the Braunschweig State Theatre
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, 2005)
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 3 D minor
Brigitte Pinter, Alto
Choirs of the Braunschweig State Theatre
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2004)
César Franck
Symphony D minor
Le chasseur maudit
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Coviello Classics, 2003)
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Symphony No. 3 A minor, Scottish
The Hebrides Overture
Richard Strauss
Macbeth
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 2001)
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 1 B-flat major, Spring
Symphony No. 4 D minor
Overture to Manfred
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 2000)
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 2 C major
Symphony No. 3 E-flat major, Rhenish
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 1999-2000)
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 D major
Finlandia
Braunschweig State Orchestra
(Live CD, Classiconcert, 1998)