MUSIC

“Music, the arts and literature give consolation, strength, encouragement and joie de vivre to people in any phase of life. We should enable as many people as possible to enjoy these riches.”

Christoph Altstaedt is dedicated to bringing music to the widest possible public. He has pioneered new concert formats, often involving experimental theatre and featuring repertoire from baroque music on original instruments through to electronic music and Hip-Hop. As an orchestra founder, music educator and radio presenter, he has managed to build meaningful bridges with many audiences.

Christoph Altstaedt is dedicated to bringing music to the widest possible public. He has pioneered new concert formats, often involving experimental theatre and featuring repertoire from baroque music on original instruments through to electronic music and Hip-Hop. As an orchestra founder, music educator and radio presenter, he has managed to build meaningful bridges with many audiences.

…CONNECTS

While still a student, he founded the “Junges Klangforum Mitte Europa” (“Young Sound Forum Central Europe”), uniting music students from Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Under the patronage of Richard von Weizsäcker, Lech Wałesa and Václav Havel, the youth orchestra performed at historically meaningful sites such as Theresienstadt/Terezín and Kreisau/Kryżowa, but also toured as far afield as Japan. The orchestra won multiple awards, including the Praemium Imperiale of the Japan Art Association and the Zeit Foundation’s Marion Dönhoff Award for International Understanding and Reconciliation.

While still a student, he founded the “Junges Klangforum Mitte Europa” (“Young Sound Forum Central Europe”), uniting music students from Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Under the patronage of Richard von Weizsäcker, Lech Wałesa and Václav Havel, the youth orchestra performed at historically meaningful sites such as Theresienstadt/Terezín and Kreisau/Kryżowa, but also toured as far afield as Japan. The orchestra won multiple awards, including the Praemium Imperiale of the Japan Art Association and the Zeit Foundation’s Marion Dönhoff Award for International Understanding and Reconciliation.

…FORMATION

Thereafter, he followed the classical path of répétiteur and kapellmeister at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and Deutsche Oper am Rhein. He has made guest appearances at the Zurich Opera, the Basel Theatre, the Komische Oper Berlin and the festivals in Salzburg and Savonlinna. He works regularly with the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki, Opera North in Leeds and the Glyndebourne Festival.

On the concert podium, he has conducted the Royal Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Ulster Orchestra Belfast, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the German Radio Philharmonic, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin, the Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, the Ensemble Resonanz, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

Thereafter, he followed the classical path of répétiteur and kapellmeister at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and Deutsche Oper am Rhein. He has made guest appearances at the Zurich Opera, the Basel Theatre, the Komische Oper Berlin and the festivals in Salzburg and Savonlinna. He works regularly with the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki, Opera North in Leeds and the Glyndebourne Festival.

On the concert podium, he has conducted the Royal Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Ulster Orchestra Belfast, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the German Radio Philharmonic, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin, the Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, the Ensemble Resonanz, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.
  • “Christoph Altstaedt conducts with fleet elegance, orchestral playing is a tour de force of clarity and style.”Financial Times — 2017
  • “Altstaedt brilliantly laid out this tense music, shaping the sound expertly.”Toronto Star — 2018
  • “Musically, the production is a clear winner. The young conductor Altstaedt leads the Orchestra with a tight rein, always aligning the details with the greater whole.”NZZ — 2016

…EDUCATING

“I love direct exchange with the audience. Making classical music accessible for everyone gives me enormous joy. My goal is to entertain long-time music lovers with information and humour just as much as people who are attending their very first concert.”

Alongside new opera formats, Christoph Altstaedt also develops programmes for opera galas or New Year’s concerts – which he moderates himself. He has presented such concerts at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra Belfast. Several times, he has been the featured artist on the WDR radio station’s feature “Werkbetrachtungen”.

Alongside new opera formats, Christoph Altstaedt also develops programmes for opera galas or New Year’s concerts – which he moderates himself. He has presented such concerts at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra Belfast. Several times, he has been the featured artist on the WDR radio station’s feature “Werkbetrachtungen”.

YOUNG
   ART(ISTS)

Ever since an engagement as the pianist and assistant conductor of the German National Youth Orchestra, Christoph Altstaedt has particularly enjoyed working with youth orchestras.

From 2002 to 2006 he conducted the orchestra of the Julius Stern Institute, the junior division of Berlin’s University of the Arts. He has conducted the State Youth Orchestras of Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Saxony and the Saarland, the music academy orchestras in Lübeck and Graz and the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie.

Together with the German National Youth Orchestra, he is currently developing a project dedicated to Beethoven’s deafness.

“I am very grateful that I have been able to meet so many inspiring young people over the years. Long after these working phases end, I continue to thrive on the young musicians’ enthusiasm and idealism.”