“This is a name to watch… Schiffman intensified, emphasised and conjured up the images so vividly, that you could reconstruct the storyline of the fairytale even if you had never heard it before.” (Südkurier)
Jonathan Schiffman’s imaginative, fresh and contemporary approach to repertoire and programming has captured the interest of both orchestras and audiences throughout Europe and the US. Informed by his background as a composer, Schiffman draws on a strong interest in contemporary music as well as a wide core repertoire to produce programmes which are both unique and appealing. His open enthusiasm and charismatic approach towards conducting have earned him the respect and admiration of many strong supporters.
After two seasons as assistant to Kurt Masur at the Orchestra National de France and Ivan Fischer at the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Schiffman held the position of Music Director with the Orchestre Lyrique de Région Avignon-Provence from 2007-2010, during which time audience subscriptions doubled. In February 2006, Schiffman made his subscription concert debut with the Orchestre National de France which resulted in a 2008 reengagement as well as debuts with the Opéra National de Lorraine and the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire.
During the 2009-10 season, Schiffman made a number of notable debuts including with the Orchestre de Paris, the Northern Sinfonia in a sell-out concert with Sarah Chang at the Royal Albert Hall, the Copenhagen Philharmonic and the Gävle Symphony Orchestra. He also returned to the Opéra National de Lorraine to conduct a double-bill of Bernstein Trouble in Tahiti and Ravel L’Enfant et les Sortilèges. In 2010-11, Schiffman has debuts with the Orchestre National de Lyon, BBC Scottish Symphony, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Dublin, Het Gelders Orkest, Helsingborg Symphony and the Norrlands Opera Orchestra.
Born and raised in New York City, Schiffman began studying cello at age five. Piano and composition studies followed shortly afterwards. Upon graduating with honours from Yale where he was Music Director of the Yale Bach Society Orchestra & Chorus, Schiffman attended the Aspen Summer Music Festival as a conducting fellow. He subsequently received a master’s degree from Juilliard, where he studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller. In 2001, Schiffman made his professional conducting debut with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. His success there led to several return engagements as well as concerts with the National Symphony, Eugene Symphony, and Richmond Symphony orchestras. Schiffman moved to Paris in 2003 to study composition with Narcis Bonet as a Fulbright scholar.
An active composer himself, Schiffman has a particularly close affinity to new music. He has conducted premieres by a number of prominent composers including a European premiere of Wolfgang Rihm Dritter Doppelgesang with the Orchestre National de France. He also conducted the world premiere performance of Stravinsky's last work, entitled, Four Preludes and Fugues transcribed from The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Jonathan Schiffman is represented by Bridget Emmerson at Intermusica.
July 2010 / 430 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.
SAMPLE CONDUCTING PROGRAMMES
Dutilleux Mystère de l'instant
Beethoven Romance for Violin and Orchestra No.1 in G Major
Dutilleux Sur le même accord
Beethoven Symphony No.7
Ligeti Ramifications
Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major
Ligeti Cello Concerto
Haydn Symphony No.95 in C Minor
Stravinsky Suite No.2 for small orchestra
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Gershwin Second Rhapsody
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Stravinsky Suite No.2 for small orchestra
Ravel Concerto for piano and orchestra in G major
Greenwood Popcorn Superhet Receiver
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Brahms Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn
Lutoslawski Symphonic Variations
Dvořák Concerto for cello and orchestra in B minor
Mozart Symphony No.25 in G minor
Berio Folk Songs
Dallapiccola Piccola Musica Notturna
Mozart Symphony No.40 in G minor
Schiffman New work
Stravinsky Danses concertantes
Dvořák Violin Concerto in A minor
Milhaud Symphony No.5 for small orchestra
Ravel Piano Concerto in G minor
Martinů Double Concerto for two string orchestras, piano and timpani
Mozart Symohony No.35 in D major ‘Haffner’
Eric Tanguy Adagio for strings
Prokofiev Violin Concerto no. 2
Nielsen Symphony No.1 in G minor
Back to Top
Opéra National de Lorraine / Bernstein Trouble in Tahiti & Ravel L'Enfant et les Sortilèges
“.. singers, orchestra and production team shone brightly in L'Enfant et les Sortilèges, with Schiffman drawing fine playing from the orchestra, and excellent singing from a cast led by the idiomatic Enfant of mezzo Amaya Dominguez.”
Opera News, March 2010
Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Konstanz / Chopin, Dallapiccola, Stravinsky
“Whilst the orchestra did not have much to do in Chopin’s piano concerto other than roll out the red carpet for the soloist, the second half of the concert belonged to the Philharmonie and their 32 year-young guest conductor, Jonathan Schiffman. This is a name to watch and his performance of Stravinsky’s ‘Fire Bird’ was an occasion to remember…
The Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie played Stravinsky’s well-loved ballet suite only two years ago… This is still a little too recent to be making a repeat appearance. But in view of Jonathan Schiffman’s breathtaking performance, any objections were over-ridden. He really brought out the vividness of the music. Whether it was the firebird flying towards us, the princesses snuggling down comfortably, or the evil Kaschtschej racing furiously through hell; Schiffman intensified, emphasised and conjured up the images so vividly, that you could reconstruct the storyline of the fairytale even if you had never heard it before. The orchestra followed him every step of the way, showing their flexibility and spontaneity. The Konstanzer Konsil was filled with well-deserved applause.”
Südkurier, October 2009
“Jonathan Schiffman led the orchestra in a transparent, dynamic performance of Mozart’s graceful Haffner Symphony […] This was only a prelude to the orchestral highlight of the evening: Stravinsky’s ‘Firebird’, where Jonathan Schiffman and the passionately engaged orchestra painted the magical atmosphere and raging turmoil with breath-taking dynamism and precision.”
Schwäbische Zeitung, October 2009