Peter Jonas (director)
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Jonas, CBE
, FRCM, FRNCM, FRSA, b.14 October 1946, is a British
Arts Administrator
and opera
company director.
, and took an English Literature degree at the University of Sussex
. He later studied History of Music at Royal Northern College of Music Manchester
, and the Royal College of Music
London
, with a final semester at Eastman School of Music
, University of Rochester
USA.
In 1974, Jonas became the assistant to Sir George Solti, the Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, becoming the orchestra’s Artistic Administrator in 1976, and, in 1977, the Director of Artistic Administration of the Chicago Orchestral Association. Returning to England, he took over the management of the English National Opera
, holding the position from 1985 to 1993, succeeding Lord Harewood
. He later became a patron of The Solti Foundation.
He was awarded an honorary Doctorate
of Music from the University of Sussex in 1993. In September that year, Munich’s Bavarian State Opera
invited Jonas to become its Staatsintendant (General and Artistic Director); he held this position until 2006. While there he extended the company’s repertoire within baroque opera, promoted its opera for all project and supported contemporary composers by introducing fourteen new-work premieres. He was awarded the Bavarian Constitutional Medal in 2001.
Jonas became a faculty member and lecturer at the University of St Gallen in 2003, a lecturer at the University of Zürich
, and a visiting lecturer for the Bavarian Theatre Academy Munich in 2004. He was the first chairman of the German Speaking Opera Intendants (Directors) Conference from 2001 to 2005, and a judging panel member for the 2006 International Wagner Competition, Seattle.
Jonas, with Placido Domingo
, journalist Christine Lemke-Matwey, and Dr Charles Barber, contributed to a documentary on the life and art of Carlos Kleiber
on BBC Radio 3
(26 Sept 2009).
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, FRCM, FRNCM, FRSA, b.14 October 1946, is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Arts Administrator
Arts administration
Arts Administration is the business end of an arts organization responsible for facilitating the day-to-day operation of the organization and fulfilling its mission...
and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
company director.
Career
Jonas studied at Worth SchoolWorth School
Worth School, near the village of Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, England, is a co-educational Roman Catholic boarding and day independent school for pupils aged between 11–18 years. The school is located with Worth Abbey, a Benedictine monastery, in of Sussex countryside...
, and took an English Literature degree at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. He later studied History of Music at Royal Northern College of Music Manchester
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
, and the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with a final semester at Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
USA.
In 1974, Jonas became the assistant to Sir George Solti, the Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, becoming the orchestra’s Artistic Administrator in 1976, and, in 1977, the Director of Artistic Administration of the Chicago Orchestral Association. Returning to England, he took over the management of the English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
, holding the position from 1985 to 1993, succeeding Lord Harewood
George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood
George Henry Hubert Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood, KBE AM , styled The Hon. George Lascelles before 1929 and Viscount Lascelles between 1929 and 1947, was the elder son of the 6th Earl of Harewood , and Princess Mary, Princess Royal, the only daughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and...
. He later became a patron of The Solti Foundation.
He was awarded an honorary Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of Music from the University of Sussex in 1993. In September that year, Munich’s Bavarian State Opera
Bavarian State Opera
The Bavarian State Opera is an opera company based in Munich, Germany.Its orchestra is the Bavarian State Orchestra.- History:The opera company which was founded under Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy has been in existence since 1653...
invited Jonas to become its Staatsintendant (General and Artistic Director); he held this position until 2006. While there he extended the company’s repertoire within baroque opera, promoted its opera for all project and supported contemporary composers by introducing fourteen new-work premieres. He was awarded the Bavarian Constitutional Medal in 2001.
Jonas became a faculty member and lecturer at the University of St Gallen in 2003, a lecturer at the University of Zürich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, and a visiting lecturer for the Bavarian Theatre Academy Munich in 2004. He was the first chairman of the German Speaking Opera Intendants (Directors) Conference from 2001 to 2005, and a judging panel member for the 2006 International Wagner Competition, Seattle.
Jonas, with Placido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, journalist Christine Lemke-Matwey, and Dr Charles Barber, contributed to a documentary on the life and art of Carlos Kleiber
Carlos Kleiber
Carlos Kleiber was a German-born, Austrian classical conductor who spent most of his early life in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Vienna and New York City, and from the early 1960s his professional career in Germany.- Early career :...
on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
(26 Sept 2009).
Trusteeships, board or council memberships
- National Opera StudioNational Opera StudioThe National Opera Studio in London, England was established by the Arts Council as a link between the music colleges and the six main UK opera companies. It was resident at Morley College in Lambeth until 2003, when it gained use for the first time of its own dedicated premises in Chapel Yard,...
(1985–93); - Association Internationale de Directeurs de L'Opera (1985–2006);
- Royal College of Music (1988–95);
- London Lighthouse (1990–92)
- Kuratorium Richard Stauss Gesellschaft (1993–2009);
- Deutsche Bühnenverein (1993–2006);
- Advisary Board of the Bayerische Vereinsbank (1994);
- Hypovereinsbank Munich (1994–2004);
- Bayerische Rundfunk (Bavarian Radio and TV 1999);
- Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts (2005);
- Berlin State Opera and Ballet companies (2005);
- Carl Linde Academy Technical University Munich (2006);
- Netherlands Opera Amsterdam (2009);
- University of LucerneUniversity of LucerneThe University of Lucerne is a public university with a campus in Luzern, Switzerland. 1231 undergraduates and 1061 postgraduate students attend the university, which makes it Switzerland's smallest university....
Switzerland (2009).
Honours
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts;
- Fellow of the Royal College of Music (1989);
- Commander of the British Empire (1991) for services to Opera;
- Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music (2000);
- Bavarian Constitution Medal (2001);
- Kultureller Ehrenpreis der Landeshauptstadt München (Munich State Medal 2003);
- Karl Valentin Order of Merit (2006);
- Bayerischer Maximilians-Orden für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and ArtBavarian Maximilian Order for Science and ArtThe Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art was first established on 28 November 1853 by King Maximilian II. von Bayern. It is awarded to acknowledge and reward excellent and outstanding achievements in the field of science and art...
2008)
Publications
- Powerhouse, The English National Opera Experience (1993);
- Eliten und Demokratie (1999);
- Wenn Musik der Liebe Nahrung ist, spielt weiter... (2006).
External links
- Jonas and the ENO “over-title” debacle The Guardian 8 June 2005. Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- ECM label Awards Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- Peter Jonas German Wikipedia article
- Portrait of Peter Jonas by Charlotte Harris Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- Peter Jonas Sleeve notes for Axel Wolf: Johann Adolph Hasse: Opera for Lute Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- ENO, our gateway to Opera The Times Literary Supplement 30 Dec 2009. Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- Guardian interview 28 July 2006. Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- German British Forum. Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- International Wagner Competition. Retrieved 09 Sept 2010.
- Biography at Bayerische Staatsoper. Retrieved 06 Jan 2011.