Mario Venzago
Encyclopedia
Mario Venzago is a Swiss
conductor
. His piano studies began at age five. He studied at the conservatory and the university in Zurich
. He later studied conducting with Hans Swarowsky
in Vienna
.
His other positions have included music directorships with Stadtorchester Winterthur (1978–1986), the Heidelberg Opera (1986–1989), the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie
, Frankfurt/Bremen (1989–1992), Graz Opera
(1990–1995), Sinfonieorchester Basel
(1997–2003), and the Basque Euskadi National Orchestra in Spain (1998–2001). From 2004 to 2007, he was Principal Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
.
Venzago made his American debut in 1988 at the Hollywood Bowl
while he was a conducting fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
studying with Leonard Bernstein
. He became Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
in 2002. His initial contract in Indianapolis
was for four years. He renewed his contract in 2005, for one year, and with an "evergreen" agreement for automatic annual renewal, depending on mutual consent. On July 30, 2009, Simon Crookall, the CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, announced that Venzago's contract would not be renewed and that all advertised appearances with the orchestra in 2009-10 had been cancelled as a result of non-renewal. Other work in the USA has included the artistic directorship from 2000-2003 of the Summer Music Fest of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
.
Venzago and his wife Marianne have two sons, Mario and Gabriel.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. His piano studies began at age five. He studied at the conservatory and the university in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. He later studied conducting with Hans Swarowsky
Hans Swarowsky
Hans Swarowsky was an Austrian conductor of Hungarian birth and Jewish descent.Swarowsky was born in Budapest, Hungary. He studied the art of conducting under Felix Weingartner and Richard Strauss...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
His other positions have included music directorships with Stadtorchester Winterthur (1978–1986), the Heidelberg Opera (1986–1989), the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie
The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is a chamber orchestra based in Bremen, Germany.-History:...
, Frankfurt/Bremen (1989–1992), Graz Opera
Graz Opera
Graz Opera is an opera house and opera company in Graz, Austria.-History:Opera had been performed in Graz since the 17th century, originally in a converted coach house on the Hapsburg royal estates...
(1990–1995), Sinfonieorchester Basel
Sinfonieorchester Basel
The Sinfonieorchester Basel is a Swiss orchestra based in Basel. The orchestra performs symphony concerts at the Musiksaal, Basel. The orchestra also serves as the opera orchestra and ballet orchestra for the Theater Basel...
(1997–2003), and the Basque Euskadi National Orchestra in Spain (1998–2001). From 2004 to 2007, he was Principal Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
The Göteborgs Symfoniker is an orchestra based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Founded in 1905, it was granted the title of the "National Orchestra of Sweden" in 1997...
.
Venzago made his American debut in 1988 at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
while he was a conducting fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute was a summer training program held in Los Angeles, California for conservatory aged orchestral instrumentalists and conductors...
studying with Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. He became Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana.Annually, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs 200 concerts for over 350,000 people. It is the largest performing arts organization in Indiana. The ISO is currently one of only 18 American...
in 2002. His initial contract in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
was for four years. He renewed his contract in 2005, for one year, and with an "evergreen" agreement for automatic annual renewal, depending on mutual consent. On July 30, 2009, Simon Crookall, the CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, announced that Venzago's contract would not be renewed and that all advertised appearances with the orchestra in 2009-10 had been cancelled as a result of non-renewal. Other work in the USA has included the artistic directorship from 2000-2003 of the Summer Music Fest of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
.
Venzago and his wife Marianne have two sons, Mario and Gabriel.
External links
- Mario Venzago official website
- Mario Venzago biography at Intermusica Artists' Management Limited
- Mario Venzago biography from the ISO.