Swiss-born conductor Mario Venzago is in his seventh season as Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
From 2004-2007 he was Principal Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (the National Orchestra of Sweden). He has previously held posts as Music Director of the Basel Symphony Orchestra (1997-2003), the Basque National Orchestra in Spain (1998-2001), the Graz Opera House in Austria (1990-1995), the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie in Frankfurt/Bremen (1989-1992), the Heidelberg Opera (1986-1989), the Winterthur City Orchestra (1978-1986), the Lucerne Opera House, and he served as principal conductor for the broadcast recordings of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva until 1986.
A regular visitor to the world’s leading orchestras and opera houses, Mr. Venzago's distinguished conducting career has included engagements with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the BBC London, the Scala di Milano, the Boston and Philadelphia Orchestras. He has also conducted, among other prestigious festivals, at the Salzburg and Lucerne Festivals.
Maestro Venzago's varied discography has earned him several major awards, including the Diapason d´or, two Grand Prix du Disque, and the Edison Prize. With the Basel Symphony he has recorded the complete symphonic works of Schumann, Ravel and Nono, with the choir and orchestra of the MDR Leipzig the whole choral works by Othmar Schoeck and with the Gothenburg symphony orchestra all orchestra works of Alban Berg.
He has collaborated with famous stage directors Ruth Berghaus, Peter Konwitschny and most recently Hans Neuenfels with whom he presented the 2007 production of Pentheseilea at the Basel Theatre to great acclaim from the international press.
Mario Venzago was born in 1948 in Zurich, Switzerland. He began playing piano at age five, attended the conservatory and the university in Zurich and continued his studies with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. For 10 years he toured and recorded extensively as a concert pianist and accompanist. He also worked for the radio network in Lugano. He began his career on the podium in 1978 as principal conductor of the Winterthur City Orchestra. He later led the Lucerne Opera House and served as principal conductor for the broadcast recordings of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva until 1986.
Mr. Venzago performs with many renowned artists of the world`s concert stage including Argerich, Bell, Freire, Josefowicz, Kremer, Lang Lang, Levin, Lupu, Maisky, Mutter, Nicolet, Ohlsson, Pletnev, Shaham, Steuerman, Tetzlaff, Vengerow, Zehetmair, K.Zimerman, F.P.Zimmermann and many of the world`s finest singers such as Araiza, Banse, Baltsa, Häfliger, Heppner, Kalisch, Naef, Moser, Popp and Ziesak.
Mr.Venzago also spends his time composing. He lives in Heidelberg with his wife Marianne and his son Gabriel.
Mario Venzago is represented by Jessica Ford at Intermusica, jford@intermusica.co.uk.
August 2008 / 432 words. Not to be altered without permission.
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