Celso Antunes
Encyclopedia
Celso Antunes is a Brazil
ian conductor located in Germany
.
, achieved recognition as assistant conductor of the São Paulo Youth Symphony Orchestra and obtained a DAAD
scholarship
to complete his studies on at the Musikhochschule Köln in Germany, where he graduated in 1990.
Shortly afterward, in 1991, Antunes founded his own new music group, the Tippett Ensemble, which continues to give concerts throughout Europe
, always featuring mainly contemporary music.
Following his debut with the Neues Rheinisches Kammerorchester at the Kölner Philharmonie, he was appointed its Chief Conductor, a post he held from 1994 until 1998. During roughly the same period (1994–1997) he was also Chief Conductor of the Antwerp-based ensemble Champ d'Action.
His engagements have included appearances at the Flanders Festival, the Cologne
MusikTriennale, the Kurt-Weill-Festival
in Dessau
and the Living Music Festival in Dublin.
Antunes has appeared with such artists as the Cappella Istropolitana Bratislava, the WDR Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Gürzenich Orchestra
, the Irish Chamber Orchestra
, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
in Riga
, the Radio Sinfonieorchester NDR Hannover, the Ulster Orchestra
(Belfast
) and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz.
Between 2002 and 2007, Antunes was the Artistic Director
and Chief Conductor of The National Chamber Choir of Ireland.
He also returns annually to conduct in Brazil, where he appears with the Camerata Fukuda and with the São Paulo State Symphony
.
In August 2004, Antunes was bestowed the honour of the Order of Rio Branco, in the rank of Commander, by the Brazilian government, for the extraordinary artistic services rendered to his native Brazil.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian conductor located in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Biography
Antunes studied singing and conducting at the University of São PauloUniversity of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
, achieved recognition as assistant conductor of the São Paulo Youth Symphony Orchestra and obtained a DAAD
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD is the largest German support organisation in the field of international academic co-operation....
scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to complete his studies on at the Musikhochschule Köln in Germany, where he graduated in 1990.
Shortly afterward, in 1991, Antunes founded his own new music group, the Tippett Ensemble, which continues to give concerts throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, always featuring mainly contemporary music.
Following his debut with the Neues Rheinisches Kammerorchester at the Kölner Philharmonie, he was appointed its Chief Conductor, a post he held from 1994 until 1998. During roughly the same period (1994–1997) he was also Chief Conductor of the Antwerp-based ensemble Champ d'Action.
His engagements have included appearances at the Flanders Festival, the Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
MusikTriennale, the Kurt-Weill-Festival
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
in Dessau
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
and the Living Music Festival in Dublin.
Antunes has appeared with such artists as the Cappella Istropolitana Bratislava, the WDR Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Gürzenich Orchestra
Gürzenich Orchestra
The Gürzenich-Orchester Köln is a symphony orchestra based in Cologne, Germany. On some recordings, the orchestra goes under the name "Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker"...
, the Irish Chamber Orchestra
Irish Chamber Orchestra
The Irish Chamber Orchestra is a Irish classical music ensemble, administratively based at the University of Limerick. The ICO primarily gives concerts at the University Concert Hall, Limerick and at the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin...
, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra is Latvia's main symphony orchestra. It was founded in 1926 as the Latvian Radio Centre Orchestra by the conductor, Arvīds Pārups. Its current Chief Conductor and Artistic Director is Karel Mark Chichon...
in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, the Radio Sinfonieorchester NDR Hannover, the Ulster Orchestra
Ulster Orchestra
The Ulster Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Belfast, the only full-time professional orchestra in Northern Ireland. The orchestra plays the majority of its concerts in Belfast's Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall...
(Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
) and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz.
Between 2002 and 2007, Antunes was the Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
and Chief Conductor of The National Chamber Choir of Ireland.
He also returns annually to conduct in Brazil, where he appears with the Camerata Fukuda and with the São Paulo State Symphony
São Paulo State Symphony
Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo is a symphony orchestra based in São Paulo, Brazil. With more than 130 concerts during its annual season, it is one of the largest and best known orchestras in South America.-Background:With broad-based programming, juxtaposing the great works of...
.
In August 2004, Antunes was bestowed the honour of the Order of Rio Branco, in the rank of Commander, by the Brazilian government, for the extraordinary artistic services rendered to his native Brazil.
Selected discography
| Album | Performer | Label | Year |
| Paulo Chagas "Sodoma" | Tippet Ensemble | Sub Rosa (SubCD 026-48, 1993) | 1993 |
| Karel Goeyvaerts "The serial works" | Champ D’Action | Megadisc (MDC 7845) | 1998 |
| Kurt Weill "Zaubernacht" | Ensemble Contrasts | Capriccio, Deutschland (LC 08748) | 2002 |
| Mozart / Haydn / Guarnieri / Schostakowitsch "Music for Strings" | Camerata Fukuda | Paulus (Brazil, CD 008237) | 2006 |
| "Ad Multos Annos", Contemporary Choral Works | National Chamber Choir | NCC/National Gallery, Ireland | 2006 |