Thomas Hengelbrock is to assume the position of chief conductor of the tradition-rich NDR Sinfonieorchester starting in September 2011. The new position is accompanied by Thomas Hengelbrock’s avidly awaited debut with Wagner’s Tannhäuser at the 2011 Bayreuth Festival.
With the position of chief conductor of the NDR Sinfonieorchester, Thomas Hengel-brock follows in the footsteps of great conductors such as Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, who fashioned the orchestra’s artistic profile over the period of a quarter of a century, Günter Wand, whose Bruckner recordings are considered to the present day to have reference character, and of course Christoph von Dohnányi, the current chief conductor of the NDR Sinfonieorchester, who returned to Germany after more than twenty years as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra and has now been shaping the orchestra’s profile through his exemplary interpretations of the symphonic core repertoire for the past five years. The NDR Sinfonieorchester numbers among the world-class radio orchestras. Founded in 1945, it quickly became known beyond Germany’s borders, and also acquired great renown through its tours to Japan, China, South America, and the USA.
In January 2008 Thomas Hengelbrock appeared with the NDR Sinfonieorchester for the first time – a debut that immediately resulted in an invitation for a return visit, and that was acclaimed by the press as a “great moment.” Die Welt reported: “Far from all classic routine, Hengelbrock ignited such a fire of enlightenment that good old Beethoven gained an undreamed-of explosive power…. And the NDR musicians went along, accentuating rhythms, colorfully illuminating lyrical passages. Thus we were again able to catch sight of those lower layers that all too frequently get lost in the leveled-off euphony.” With Thomas Hengelbrock the baton has been passed to the next following generation: “Being allowed to assume the chief position with this fantastic orchestra is a great joy, honor, and challenge. I look forward to many exciting and moving concert projects for the audience in Hamburg and Northern Germany, which I have come to know as inquisitive and spirited. It’s great to cast anchor again in the north,” declared the conductor at the signing of the contract.