Johannes Fritzsch (born 1960 in Meissen, East Germany) is a German conductor.

Biography

Fritzsch's father, a cantor and organist, was his first music teacher, in piano and organ. His brother Georg Fritzsch (born 1963) is also a conductor. His other brother, Rainer Fritzsch (born 1974), is a cantor in Radeberg.

Fritzsch continued his musical studies on violin and trumpet. He attended the Carl Maria von Weber Music Academy in Dresden, studying conducting, piano and trumpet. In 1982, Fritzsch took his first conducting post, as second Kapellmeister at the Rostock People's Theatre, where his conducting duties included the first East German performances of Hans Werner Henze's The English Cat in 1986. From 1987 to 1992, Fritzsch was a Kapellmeister with the Staatsoper Dresden, Semperoper.

From 1992 to 1993, he was first Kapellmeister at the Staatsoper Hannover. From 1993 to 1999, he served as music director and chief conductor at the Städtische Bühnen and the Philharmonisches Orchester in Freiburg. He was Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) of the Staatsoper Nürnberg in the 2005/2006 season. In Austria, he became chief conductor of the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra and the Graz Opera in 2006. In January 2013, Fritzsch resigned his Graz posts, effective at the end of January 2013.[1]

Fritzsch made his first conducting appearance in Australia in 1992 for an Opera Australia production of Hänsel und Gretel. He conducted a recording of Richard Strauss' tone poems with The Queensland Orchestra (TQO).[2] In July 2007, Fritzsch was named chief conductor of the TQO for an initial contract of three years, beginning in 2008.[3] His first concert as the TQO's chief conductor was in March 2008.[4] In February 2010, the orchestra, whose name reverted to its former name of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 2010, announced the extension of Fritzsch's contract as chief conductor for another three years, through 2013.[5] He stood down as chief conductor of the QSO at the end of 2014.[6] Following the conclusion of his QSO chief conductorship, Fritzsch took the title of conductor laureate of the QSO. In February 2021, the QSO announced the return of Fritzsch to the orchestra as its new principal conductor and artistic adviser, with a contract until 2023.[7][8] He took the title of principal guest conductor of the QSO in 2023, and is scheduled to revert to his title of conductor laureate of the QSO in 2024.[9]

In 2001, Fritzsch first guest-conducted the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO). In April 2017, the TSO announced the appointment of Fritzsch as its first-ever principal guest conductor, effective January 2018, with an initial contract of three years.[10] Fritzsch has recorded commercially with the TSO for Hyperion Records.[11]

In 1999, Fritzsch married Susan Collins, then the deputy concertmaster of the Sydney Opera House orchestra.[12] They have three daughters.[13] The family resides in Hobart.[14]

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually from 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 Vasks|Gorecki|Pelecis (with Tamara Anna Cislowska & Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra) Best Classical Album Nominated [15]

References

  1. ↑ "Chefdirigent Johannes Fritzsch verlässt Oper Graz". Die Presse. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  2. ↑ Elisabeth Wynhausen (17 March 2007). "Back from the brink". The Australian. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  3. ↑ Rosemary Sorensen (2007-07-17). "Conductor aims for the soul". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  4. ↑ Gillian Wills (2008-03-31). "Panache in weighty program". The Australian. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  5. ↑ "Chief Conductor for QSO: Queensland Symphony Orchestra Announces Three-Year Contract Extension for Chief Conductor Johannes Fritzsch" (PDF) (Press release). The Queensland Orchestra. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  6. ↑ Natalie Bochenski (2013-09-04). "Sweet symphony for orchestra in 2014". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  7. ↑ "Maestro Johannes Fritzsch named Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of Queensland Symphony Orchestra" (Press release). Queensland Symphony Orchestra. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  8. ↑ Jo Litson (2021-02-20). "Johannes Fritzsch named as QSO's new Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser". Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  9. ↑ Hugh Robertson (2021-05-27). "Umberto Clerici appointed Chief Conductor of QSO". Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  10. ↑ "TSO appoints Johannes Fritzsch first-ever Principal Guest Conductor" (Press release). Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  11. ↑ Stephanie Eslake (2017-03-10). "Boyle, Hill Piano Concertos – Piers Lane, Hyperion CDA68135". Limelight. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  12. ↑ Linda Smith (2016-08-14). "Living in perfect harmony". The Mercury. Hobart. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  13. ↑ Anna King Murdoch (2008-03-21). "Johannes Fritzsch unveils a bold orchestra program". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  14. ↑ Matthew Westwood (2014-11-11). "Johannes Fritzsch leaves Queensland Symphony Orchestra at crescendo". The Australian. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  15. ↑ ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Award". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 9 July 2022.
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