Alexander Liebreich
Alexander Liebreich has been hailed by the press as Munich's most exciting conductor and a pioneer in a new generation of conductors, for whom the borderline between large symphony orchestras and smaller, more flexible ensembles comes just as naturally as the synthesis of artistic mastery and social responsibility.
Having won the Kondraschin Conducting Competition in 1996, he was appointed assistant to Edo de Waart at the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest-Holland. Born in Regensburg, Alexander Liebreich studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and the Salzburg Mozarteum. He thanks both Claudio Abbado and Michael Gielen for many of his early artistic experiences. Since then, he appeared as guest conductor with many prestigious orchestras including the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Belgique, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, the Radio Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the Munich Philharmonic. He has performed with distinguished soloists such as Lisa Batiashvili, Claron McFadden, Frank Peter Zimmermann and Maxim Vengerov. In recent years, he has also conducted the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Warszawa, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, NDR Radio-Philharmonic, RSO Stuttgart, Dresden Philharmonic, the Osaka Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo.
Alexander Liebreich was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Munich Chamber Orchestra (MKO) in October 2006. Since that time, as well as receiving several awards for its unique sound and innovative programming, the ensemble has become widely celebrated not only in Munich but also throughout Europe and overseas, performing with Liebreich at major international festivals and concert halls. Their first collaborative CD, featuring works by Joseph Haydn and Isang Yun, was released internationally to great critical acclaim by the label ECM in January 2008, and was followed in 2009 by the launch of a Bach CD with Hilary Hahn, Christine Schäfer and Matthias Goerne, by Deutsche Grammophon. His most recent recording, featuring Rossini overtures, was released in 2011 and was named CD of the month by Fono Forum.
Aside from his concerts and opera productions, Alexander Liebreich has established a reputation for himself through his extraordinary initiative in pursuing unusual projects. In 2002, he visited North and South Korea together with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie where they gave the first Korean performances of Bruckner Symphony No. 8. He has since returned to North Korea five times as Guest Professor in collaboration with the Goethe Institute and the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). The unique documentary film "Pyongyang Crescendo", released on DVD in 2005, captures his teaching experiences there.
In December 2008, Alexander Liebreich was named member of the General Meeting of the Goethe Institute, a guiding body of selected figures from the cultural life of Germany advising the institute's Board of Trustees. Since 2011, he has been the first European artistic director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) in South Korea, one of the biggest and most important festivals in Asia.
Beginning of the 2011/12 season, Alexander Liebreich made his successful debut at the Frankfurt Opera with Othmar Schoeck's Penthesilea, produced by Hans Neuenfels. He will also conduct the Hong Kong Sinfonietta with pianist Alexandre Tharaud, the National Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice in Zemlinsky‘s Lyrischer Symphonie, and performances of Bach‘s Christmas Oratorio with the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart and the Gächinger Kantorei at the International Bach Academy Stuttgart. He and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin will embark on a tour of Great Britain following his debut with the orchestra in Berlin.
Season 2011/2012
Having won the Kondraschin Conducting Competition in 1996, he was appointed assistant to Edo de Waart at the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest-Holland. Born in Regensburg, Alexander Liebreich studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and the Salzburg Mozarteum. He thanks both Claudio Abbado and Michael Gielen for many of his early artistic experiences. Since then, he appeared as guest conductor with many prestigious orchestras including the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Belgique, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, the Radio Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the Munich Philharmonic. He has performed with distinguished soloists such as Lisa Batiashvili, Claron McFadden, Frank Peter Zimmermann and Maxim Vengerov. In recent years, he has also conducted the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Warszawa, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, NDR Radio-Philharmonic, RSO Stuttgart, Dresden Philharmonic, the Osaka Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo.
Alexander Liebreich was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Munich Chamber Orchestra (MKO) in October 2006. Since that time, as well as receiving several awards for its unique sound and innovative programming, the ensemble has become widely celebrated not only in Munich but also throughout Europe and overseas, performing with Liebreich at major international festivals and concert halls. Their first collaborative CD, featuring works by Joseph Haydn and Isang Yun, was released internationally to great critical acclaim by the label ECM in January 2008, and was followed in 2009 by the launch of a Bach CD with Hilary Hahn, Christine Schäfer and Matthias Goerne, by Deutsche Grammophon. His most recent recording, featuring Rossini overtures, was released in 2011 and was named CD of the month by Fono Forum.
Aside from his concerts and opera productions, Alexander Liebreich has established a reputation for himself through his extraordinary initiative in pursuing unusual projects. In 2002, he visited North and South Korea together with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie where they gave the first Korean performances of Bruckner Symphony No. 8. He has since returned to North Korea five times as Guest Professor in collaboration with the Goethe Institute and the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). The unique documentary film "Pyongyang Crescendo", released on DVD in 2005, captures his teaching experiences there.
In December 2008, Alexander Liebreich was named member of the General Meeting of the Goethe Institute, a guiding body of selected figures from the cultural life of Germany advising the institute's Board of Trustees. Since 2011, he has been the first European artistic director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) in South Korea, one of the biggest and most important festivals in Asia.
Beginning of the 2011/12 season, Alexander Liebreich made his successful debut at the Frankfurt Opera with Othmar Schoeck's Penthesilea, produced by Hans Neuenfels. He will also conduct the Hong Kong Sinfonietta with pianist Alexandre Tharaud, the National Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice in Zemlinsky‘s Lyrischer Symphonie, and performances of Bach‘s Christmas Oratorio with the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart and the Gächinger Kantorei at the International Bach Academy Stuttgart. He and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin will embark on a tour of Great Britain following his debut with the orchestra in Berlin.
Season 2011/2012
General Management
CR: Hyun-Chul Schim
Photo: Thomas Rabsch