Tour Dates: 7 Aug - 16 Aug, 2010

Mario Venzago - Chief Conductor
Mengla Huang - Violin Soloist

Sinfonieorchester Basel
Mario Venzago
Mengla Huang
Reviews

Sinfonieorchester Basel

The Sinfonieorchester Basel (SOB) is one of the Switzerland's three major symphonic orchestras and appears in concerts as well as in operas to wide critical acclaim.

The orchestra is financed both by a large number of private supporters as well as by public funds. The constant presence of an international audience at the orchestra's performance (due to Basle's proximity to Germany and France) enhances the motivation of the musicians. Who themselves form a truly international team.

On the one hand, SOB gives concerts with the major conductors and soloists mainly for the (general music association), Basle's largest and oldest organizer of classical concerts. In the "pit" of the town's theatre, on the other hand, the orchestra constantly guarantees a high musical level in both modern and classical opera productions. Indeed, it is not surprising that SOB masters a wide spectrum of works from Bach to Boulez, from classical to contemporary repertoire. Basle being home to the Paul Sacher foundation and to ART, the world's major modern art's fair.

During the last years the number of young musicians in the orchestra has grown astonishingly. Young graduates from renowned conservatoires participate with élan in the orchestra's activity and react with mastery to the challenges of both repertoire and conductors.

Mario Venzago

Mario Venzago was born in 1948 in Zürich, 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.

After 7 extremely successful years as Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra he resigned in 2009.

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.

In 2010 he became principal conductor of the Northern Sinfonia in Newcastle and was announced Chief Conductor of the Bern Symphony Orchestra.

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 as well as the Tapiola Sinfonietta which he will join as "Artist in Association" from autumn 2010 on. 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. 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 Hans Neuenfels.

Mengla Huang

His brilliant technique and unique interpretations have fascinated audiences throughout Asia, Europe and North America. In 2002, he won the first prize at the prestigious Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy, where he was also awarded the Renato De Barbieri Memorial award for the best interpretation of Paganini's caprices and the Mario Ruminelli Memorial award.

Huang was born in 1980 in Shanghai and began to study violin at the age of 4. Admitted to Shanghai Conservatory at 8, his rare talent was recognised by Professor Lina Yu, one of the most well-known Chinese violinists and music educators, with whom he went on to study. In 2006 he received his master's degree, the youngest ever faculty member of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In September 2006, he moved to London, and has undertaken further studies with Professor Gyorgy Pauk at Royal Academy of Music. He received his PG Diploma of RAM in 2008.

Huang has worked with many of the world's finest orchestras including Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, German National Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, New Mozart, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Nice Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with conductors such as: Neeme Jarvi, Edo de Waart, Jonathan Nott, Henrik Schaefer, Muhai Tang, Nicola Luisotti, Ryusuke Numajiri, Thomas Dausgaard, Tovey Bramwell.

In October 2006, he was invited by the Danish Queen to play the Royal Performance for her guests in the Fredensborg Palace of Denmark, and was highly praised by the Danish Royal Court. April 2007 saw his New York debut at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center and Boston debut at the Jordan Hall. Highlights in the 07-08 season include a German tour and a Japan tour. He also performed in the opening gala concert of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing in December 2007 and made his Czech recital debutat the Dvorak Hall at the 63rd Prague Spring Festival in May 2008.

In addition to the Paganini prize, awards he has received include Gold Medal and Public Prize in the 2001 Sendai International Music Competition in Japan; Best Performance Prize in the 2001 Shanghai Spring International Festival, and the Second Prize in the 2000 Lipinsky and Wieniawsky International Violin Competition in Poland. In November 2007 he received the first Montegrappa's Genio Creativo Award, an annual international award for young talents who represent creativity and innovation in different fields of art and from different countries.

Reviews

"Mengla Huang's talents are fast becoming recognised worldwide."
- by Gramophone, March 2007

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