Kristjan Järvi is announced as the new music director of the MDR Symphony Orchestra
On April 18th 2011, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk German Public radio and tv announced the international renowned artist Kristjan Järvi as new Music Director of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. Järvi will take on the artistic direction of the ensemble starting with 2012/ 2013 season. He is thereby following Jun Märkl, whose contract ends with 2011/ 2012 season.
Energy. Passion. Emotion. Estonian-born and American-raised, conductor Kristjan Järvi is a unique musical personality pushing classical music borders with fresh ideas, charisma and technical prowess. Hailed by The New York Times as “a kinetic force on the podium, like Leonard Bernstein reborn”, Järvi has combined his classical roots and affinity for traditional repertoire with an infectious enthusiasm for creating original programs; propelling classical concert halls around the globe into the 21st century. Also for that, he is the ideal partner of the most flexible and innovative musicians of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony.
Promotor of new music and music educator
Kristjan Järvi has actively sought the commission of over 100 new works; his more than 30 CDs have received a list of accolades, including a Swedish Grammy for Best Opera Performance, the German Record Critics Prize for Best Album and a Grammy Nomination. Highly acclaimed is also his work as a dynamic and enterprising music educator who has founded the Baltic Youth Philharmonic which aims to become an education and performance hub for the Baltic region.
Welcomed guest for the great orchestras worldwide
Kristjan Järvi is highly sought-after as a guest conductor. In addition to his work with the New York Absolute Ensemble Järvi is always a welcomed quest at the desk of many big orchestras worldwide. To name some of them: the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de Paris, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the NHK Symphony Orchestra as well as – in Central Germany, the home of classical music in Germany – the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, the Dresdner Philharmonie or the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig.
Developing classical music beyond existing boarders
Järvis enthusiasm applies especially for innovative concert programs. As Music Director of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra he would like to turn classical concerts into impressive and modern listening experiences: “I very much look forward to working together with the excellent musicians of the MDR symphony orchestra. They are very open-minded and motivated and they have put a lot of innovative ideas into practise. Therefore, it will be much easier to develop classical music far beyond existing boarders. My goal is to become the iPad in the classical sphere of Leipzig – unique, new and creative. Together with the MDR, I would like to help to ensure that Leipzig becomes again a trendsetter regarding classical music and that we inspire the people for the music.”
A fresh breeze in the concerts
Radio director Johann Michael Möller is delighted that the MDR was able to obtain Kristjan Järvi as an extraordinary and versatile artist. On behalf of Prof. Dr. Udo Reiter he said: „Mr. Järvi is an enrichment for the music life in Leipzig and Central Germany: He ensures a fresh breeze in our concerts as well as in the program on radio and tv and he will consequently continue on our path to musical innovation. I’m really looking forward to this.”
Carsten Dufner, head of classical musical production at the MDR and therefore planning partner of Kristjan Järvi, is extremely satisfied as well: “I’m thrilled by the many ideas we’ve already had together. I’m really sure that we will offer very interesting programs and projects to our audience in concert halls and media.”