Among today’s renowned and interesting conductors, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande’s chief conductor, Jonathan Nott, is probably the most fascinating. His unique talent unites what appear to be irreconcilable opposites, creating deeply emotional yet gratifyingly intellectual interpretations, leading his audience on journeys encompassing the entirety of human experience whilst connecting to his musicians at the very humblest level.
He brings an unusual depth of analysis and heartfelt music-making, both in the symphonic repertoire – from Schubert and Bruckner to Mahler and Shostakovich – and in the field of contemporary music, where his performances have gained him the gratitude and personal friendships of György Ligeti, Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Helmut Lachenmann, Karlheinz Stockhausen, as well as the renowned composers of his own generation.
These qualities, plus an unerring sense of musical style and thorough understanding of emotional and spiritual content apply equally to his long-standing operatic conducting career, most recently in Geneva, strengthening the partnership between the Grand Théâtre de Genève and his own OSR. His contract as Music and Artistic Director has been extended indefinitely.
Unsurprisingly, he has conducted all major orchestras, performed with almost all famous soloists, and takes pride in a long list of award-winning recordings with labels such as TUDOR, SONY, the Japanese label OCTAVIA, and most recently three multi-channel 9.1 Auro 3D recordings with the OSR and PENTATONE.
In Japan – where his contract as chief conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra was rapidly lengthened to what currently will amount to an era of 13 years – he enjoys near Popstar status due not only to his intense and explosive aura while performing but also to his unusual programming creativity, most recently in unprecedented experimental concerts during the corona lockdown.
It is of utmost importance to Jonathan Nott to support and educate future generations. He regularly works with the young musicians of Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie – where he is Principal Conductor until 2024 – and was instrumental in the creation of the Mahler Conducting Competition. In his free time he is working on condensing the decades of personal experience analysing and conducting Mahler’s works into a multi-media book.
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© Photo: Guillaume Megevand
