Günter Neuhold (born 2 November 1947) is an Austrian conductor. Born in

Graz Graz () is the capital of the Austrian Federal states of Austria, federal state of Styria and the List of cities and towns in Austria, second-largest city in Austria, after Vienna. On 1 January 2025, Graz had a population of 306,068 (343,461 inc ...

, he attended the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz and graduated in 1968 with a master's degree. He later studied conducting with Franco Ferrara in Rome and with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. At the

Theater Dortmund Theater Dortmund is a theatrical organization that produces operas, Musical theatre, musicals, ballets, plays, and concerts in Dortmund, Germany. It was founded as the Stadttheater Dortmund in 1904. Supported by the German Government, the organiz ...

, Neuhold served as first conductor. His prizes at various music competitions have included: * Florence, 1st prize, 1976 * San Remo ("Marinuzzi"), 1st prize, 1976 * Vienna ("Swarowsky"), 2nd prize, 1977 * Salzburg ("Böhm"), 1st prize, 1977 * Milan ("Cantelli") 3rd prize, 1977 From 1981 to 1986, Neuhold was music director of the Teatro Regio di Parma. He has also served as chief conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica "

Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orche ...

". From 1986 to 1990, Neuhold was chief conductor and music director of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, now known as the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. He was general music director of the Badische Staatskapelle from 1989 to 1995. From 1995 to 2002, he was chief conductor of the Bremer Philharmoniker and music director at the Bremen Opera. Since 2008 he has been chief conductor and artistic director of the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa (BOS; Bilbao Symphony Orchestra). In April 2010, the orchestra announced the extension of Neuhold's contract with the BOS for another 3 years. As of 2022, he is appointed Artistic Director and Chief conductor of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. Neuhold has led commercial recordings for such labels as

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records, which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about ...

, Brilliant Classics and Bella Musica. These recorded works include: the second of only two recordings of the original 1904 version of Puccini's

Madama Butterfly ''Madama Butterfly'' (; ''Madame Butterfly'') is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is based on the short story " Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Lu ...

, Bruckner: Symphony No. 4, Bach's

St Matthew Passion The ''St Matthew Passion'' (), BWV 244, is a '' Passion'', a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander. It sets the 26th and 27th chapters of th ...

and a live recording of

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

Der Ring des Nibelungen (''The Ring of the Nibelung''), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from Germanic heroic legend, namely Norse legendary sagas and the . The compo ...

Honours

# 1999: ''Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver'' for Services to the Republic of Austria # 2007: Berufstitel Professor 2007: title of Professor

Discography

# J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion # B. Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle, Concerto for Orchestra # A. Berg: 3 Orchestral Pieces, Opus 6 # H. Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust # J. Brahms: Brahms: Symphony 1 # A. Bruckner: Symphony 4 # C. Franck: Symphony in D minor # Z. Kodály: Hary Janos Suite, Dances of Galanta # F. Liszt-F. Schreker: Concerto for Jazz Band etc. # G. Mahler: Mahler: Symphony No. 1, 2, 3, 5 # H. Marschner: Der Vampyr # G. Puccini: Madama Butterfly (1904) # W. Rihm: Portrait Concert # A. Schnittke: Piano Concerto # A. Schoenberg: Gurre-Lieder (reduced orchestra by Erwin Stein) # F. Schreker: Chamber Symphony # E. Schulhoff: Piano Concerto # Josef Strauss, Johann Strauss: "Strauss Dynasty" # I. Strawinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps # P.I. Tschaikowsky: Symphony No 5 # G. Verdi: Messa da Requiem # R. Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen # Wolf-Ferrari: La Vita Nuova

References

External links

Official Günter Neuhold webpage

Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa biography of Neuhold

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neuhold, Gunter 1947 births Living people Austrian male conductors (music) Musicians from Graz Recipients of the Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria 21st-century Austrian conductors (music) 21st-century Austrian male musicians