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Markus Stenz is now represented by the renowned English artist agency HarrisonParrott Group.
Kurtág‘s opera is coming to Germany in a semi-staged version: the German premiere will take place on the 14th of October 2023 in the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, followed by another performance at the Cologne Philharmonic on the 15th October 2023. Shortly before that, on the 12th of October 2023, the Hungarian premiere will open in Müpa, Budapest.
Markus Stenz will be appointed Professor of Conducting at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin in the summer semester of 2023. With him, the school is gaining an “outstanding and experienced artist for its conducting department”, is it said in the press release.
The world of conducting is changing: there are more and more opportunities for female conductors. However, the path to greater equality is not easy. In a three-part series, NPO Start accompanied the conductors Anja Bihlmaier, Kristiina Poska and Pascale van Os and interviewed other greats of the conducting scene, such as Markus Stenz. Towards the end of the programme, the TV team was a guest at the “La Maestra” conducting competition, which took place in Paris in March 2022 and whose jury included Markus Stenz.
Markus Stenz will take over the musical direction of the new production of DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Due to an acute shoulder illness, Sir Donald Runnicles has to withdraw from the production. The premiere is on June 12, 2022; directors are Jossi Wieler, Anna Viebrock und Sergio Morabito.
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After the world premiere four years ago at La Scala in Milano the first opera by György Kurtág “Fin de Partie” will finally be perfomed at the Opera Paris under the baton of Markus Stenz. The French premiere is on April 30, 2022 followed by seven perfomances until May 19, a recording will be broadcasted on France Musique on June 1, 2022.
With concerti magazine Markus Stenz talked about the strong connection of the “Fin de Partie” to Paris and about the workig process with Kurtág.
Interview (in German)
(c) Leigh Melrose e Frode Olsen
Instead of the scheduled concert with audience on 9th and 10th February the Dortmund Philharmonic, Markus Stenz and Julian Steckel recorded their programme with Rossini, Schumann, Kurtág and Strawinsky for WDR 3 in the series “WDR 3 Städtekonzerte NRW”. Until April 22, 2021 it’s possible to tune in on demand:
WDR 3 concert online
The recording of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 with the Norwegian Stavanger Symphony Orchestra is met with very positive criticism: “Bruckner rarely sounded so beautiful” was the headline in the Berliner Zeitung and chief music critic of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Markus Schwering, dedicated an elaborate article to the recording (22nd February 2021). The review on WDR3 comparing some details of Stenz’ interpretation with that of Mariss Jansons and the BR Symphony Orchestra can be heard online (in German).
The recording is available on digital platforms as streaming or on demand download.
The planned concerts with the MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig in Suhl and Leipzig on March 6 and 7 are cancelled. Instead there will be a streaming with a slightly modified programme (Beethoven's 4th piano concerto instead of Mahler with the soloist Herbert Schuch) at 7.30 pm on MDR Kultur.
On Feb 25, 9pm it’s possible again to watch Markus Stenz conducting: The Orchestra della Toscana invited him for a concert with works of Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (Hebrides Overture op. 26). Mozart (Symphony No. 29 K201) and Haydn (Symphony No. 94 “Suprise”).
Markus Stenz conducts Richard Strauss’s Bürger als Edelmann and the Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 kv 551 Jupiter in Venice, Teatro Malibran. The concert with the La Fenice Orchestra
can be watched as livestream.
The concert on Nov 14, 2020 at Philharmonie Luxembourg will be replaced by two concerts on Nov 13, 2020 with a different programme.
Markus Stenz will lead the Spanish premiere of Kurtág’s only opera “Fin de Partie” (Premiere: Valencia, October 29, 2020).
The performances in Amsterdam and the concerts in Detroit, Bern, Dortmund, Klagenfurt and Japan are cancelled.
Markus Stenz will be conducting Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny with the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam (premiere on March 16, 2020).
Markus Stenz will conduct “Fidelio”, Beethoven’s only opera, at Konserthus Stavanger on February 7 and 9, 2020.
The Dutch opera magazine “Place del’Opera” nominated Markus Stenz for the 'Schaunard Award' for his “ incredible direction of "‘Die Gezeichneten’ at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam”. Readers can vote online.
Next year is Kurt Weill’s 120th birthday. On occasion of this anniversary, Markus Stenz will lead a production of “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” with the Dutch National Opera in March 2020.
The “Kritikerumfrage 2019” of the magazine “Opernwelt” chose György Kurtag’s first opera “Fin de Partie” as “world premiere of the year”.
Markus Stenz will conduct “Die Gezeichneten” by Schreker at Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam on Saturday, June 1, 2019. An interview with him about this work and his time as chief conductor with the RFO is online at YouTube.
The opera “Fin de Partie” by György Kurtág won the International Opera Award 2019 in the category “World Premiere”.
An excerpt from Markus Stenz’ concert with the Orchestra della Toscana is available on YouTube.
In Spring 2019, Markus Stenz leads concerts in the United States with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Italy (Orchestra della Toscana), the Netherlands (Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, and Germany (Dortmunder Philharmoniker).
Prior to the concerts with the Oregon Symphony, Markus Stenz talked to Christa Wessel from All Classical Portland about the programme. This chat ist available on YouTube.
After two concerts in Seoul with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Christian Tetzlaff (Jan 5 and 6, 2019), Markus Stenz will lead quite a few concerts with the Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony.
The world premiere of Kurtág’s long awaited first opera “Fin de Partie” in Milan was a full success for the singers and the orchestra under the baton of Markus Stenz.
“All the expressive refinements have been solved in a masterly way by the four singers and by the conductor, Markus Stenz,” said bachtrack.
The 92-year-old composer György Kurtág fulfilled his lifelong dream and composed his first opera based on Samuel Beckett’s play “Fin de partie”. World premiere will be at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan on 15 November 2018.
At his last concert in the 2017/18 season, Markus Stenz conducts Mozart’s “Requiem” and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on 8 July 2018.