Otto Tausk

Conductor

“Otto Tausk was able to show his musical instinct, his ability and energy […] He was capable of creating an artwork by combining all the string players, the wind section, the drums and the pianos to a permanently rebuilding flow, of which very characteristic solos stood out”    Freie Presse, June 2010

Be it Shostakovich, or a new score of, for example fellow native Dutch composer Michel van der Aa, the chemistry, skill and dynamism with which Otto Tausk leads an ensemble, whether a Symphony orchestra or chamber ensemble, is an inspired musical experience. His attention to the score and the energy and enthusiasm with which he conveys this with his musicians is utterly infectious.

Otto Tausk is Principal Conductor of the Holland Symfonia, Amsterdam aspiring to raise the orchestra to a new level of artistic excellence leading the orchestra through seasons of symphony programmes and a ballet production with the Nederlands Ballet Theater each year, which next year will feature an all-Stravinsky programme.   

Firmly established in his native Holland, Tausk seasonally conducts many of its principal orchestras; in 2010/11 he will be guest conductor with the Netherlands Radio conducting the Dutch premiere of Unsuk Chin’s violin concerto with Viviane Hagner as soloist and is also guest conductor of the Flanders Philharmonic, Antwerp. Tausk conducts the Sinfonieorchester St Gallen, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Innsbruck Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck, Staatskapelle Orchestra of Halle, and the Milan Pomeriggi Musicali orchestra.  Returning by immediate reinvitation Otto Tausk will conduct the Auckland Philharmonic followed by his debut in Perth with the Western Australian Sympony Orchestra. Tausk works with such soloists as Renaud Capuçon, James Ehnes, Lilli Paasikivi, Tanja Tetzlaff, Sol Gabetta and Ian Bostridge.

In the opera and oratorio field 2010 saw Tausk at London’s Barbican Centre and Lyon Opera conducting revivals of Michel van der Aa’s opera “After Life” with the Asko Ensemble, following the success of the world premiere under Tausk’s direction at the Holland Festival 2006.  Last season he replaced an indisposed Yakov Kreizburg for performance of Verdi’s Requiem with the Netherlands Philharmonic in the Concertgebouw hall.  Other engagements in 2009/10 season also included guest conducting the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra and Bremen Philharmonic both of whom have offered reinvitations.

Otto Tausk works regularly with leading contemporary ensembles including the Maarten Altena Ensemble (of which he has been Principal Conductor), the Nieuw and the above mentioned Asko Ensemble. Between 2004 – 2006 he was assistant conductor to Valery Gergiev with the Rotterdam Philharmonic.  Aside from Gergiev’s mentorship Tausk was invited subsequently to work with the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, as well as the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

Otto Tausk, born in Utrecht won various prizes as a young violinist. He studied violin with Viktor Liberman and Istvan Parkanyi as well as orchestral conducting with Jurjen Hempel and Kenneth Montgomery. He continued his studies with Lithuanian conductor and professor Jonas Aleksa at the Vilnius Conservatoire, a period of study that had a profound impact on him. Now teaching himself, Otto is Professor of Conducting at the Utrecht Conservatory.

SEASON 2010/11 

For further information: www.ottotausk.nl