Violinist named new chief conductor of Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg

Read more news stories here

The Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg has named Spanish conductor and violinist Roberto González-Monjas as its new chief conductor from 2024. González-Monjas has been a guest conductor of the ensemble since 2019 and has led the orchestra  in concerts in Salzburg, guest performances and recording sessions.

’When I conducted the Mozarteum Orchestra for the first time in 2019, it was love at first sight,’ said González-Monjas on his appointment. ’I had the feeling that we speak exactly the same artistic language and I was simply amazed by the eloquence and musical sophistication of the musicians.

’Since I regard Mozart as one of the most important artistic personalities of all time, it is the greatest privilege to be able to take over the musical direction of this ensemble with its great history,’ continued González-Monjas, an alumnus of the Salzburg Mozarteum. ’Together we want to continue to cultivate the founding idea of Mozart’s widow and his sons from 1841 and carry it into the future and keep it alive for future generations!’

Orchestra director Siegwald Bütow praised González-Monjas’s specialised approach. ’In Roberto González-Monjas we were able to gain an internationally renowned conductor and musician who ideally embodies what the Mozarteum Orchestra is all about: the constant renewal and enlivening of the music of all epochs, but especially the works of Mozart.’

’It was “love at first note”, whether he was in charge of the orchestra with his violin or the conductor’s baton,’ said the musicians of the Mozarteum Orchestra in a statement.

González-Monjas will next conduct the Mozarteum Orchestra in concert on 11 May 2023, along with an appearance at the Salzburg Summer Festival and an upcoming album release of Mozart Serenades in summer 2023.

González-Monjasbegan his career as a solo violinist, concertmaster and chamber musician, appearing as such at the Salzburg, Grafenegg, Lucerne, Verbier and Lockenhaus festivals. He served as concertmaster of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia for six years and as the leader of the Musikkollegium Winterthur until summer 2021.

His interest in diverse repertoire includes Esa Pekka Salonen’s Violin Concerto performed with the Orchester Nationale D’Île de France; Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in a side-by-side project with the Musikkollegium Winterthur, Iberacademy and 80 young dancers; and the premiere of Richard Dubugnon’s Colorfields violin concerto.

As a conductor, he was previously principal conductor of the Galicia Symphony Orchestra in Spain and is chief conductor and artistic advisor of the Dalasinfoniettan in Sweden (until 2023), chief conductor of the Musikkollegium Winterthur in Switzerland (since the 2021/22 season), principal guest conductor of the Belgian National Orchestra (since the 2022/23 season) and artistic director of the Iberacademy in Colombia. 

He plays a violin by Giuseppe Guarnieri ’filius Andreae’ from 1710, made available to him by five Winterthur families and the Rychenberg Foundation.

Playing

In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.

Teaching

The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.

Calendars

This year’s calendar celebrates the top instruments played by members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony, Australian String Quartet and some of the country’s greatest soloists.