Aftertalk with A. Altinoglu and J. Rachlin
An informal meeting after the concert, moderated by Jiří Vejvoda, offers a glimpse behind the scenes and into the artists' personalities – their experience, humor, and humility toward music.
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Alain Altinoglu is music directeur Musical of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, chefdirigent of the hr- Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, and artistic director of Festival International de Colmar. Since 2015, he has earned widespread recognition for his extraordinary leadership, and inspiring, riveting, and transcendent opera performances in Brussels. His tenure with the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt commenced from the 2021/22 season, and his first edition in Colmar took place in July 2023.
Highlights of the 2024/25 season include continuing the acclaimed multi-season production of Wagner’s ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ at La Monnaie, directed by Pierre Audi. With the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, Altinoglu embarks on touring projects to Japan and Europe, including performances of Honegger’s ‘Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher’ in France, Germany, and Austria. In Paris, they appear at Notre Dame Cathedral premiering Thierry Escaich's ‘Te Deum’ in a special concert marking the reopening of the cathedral. In Europe, Altinoglu continues guesting relationships with Wiener Philharmoniker, Münchner Philharmoniker, and the Czech Philharmonic.
“With Alain Altinoglu, La Monnaie has found its Messiah.”
— Le Figaro
Alain Altinoglu regularly conducts such distinguished orchestras as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra London, Concertgebouworkest, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Tonhalle- Orchester Zürich, as well as all the major Parisian orchestras.
A regular guest at the world’s leading opera houses, Altinoglu appears at the New York Metropolitan Opera House, Royal Opera House London Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, Opernhaus Zürich, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper München, and all three opera houses in Paris. He has also appeared at the festivals in Bayreuth, Salzburg, Orange, and Aix- en-Provence.
Alongside his conducting, Altinoglu maintains a strong affinity with the Lied repertoire and regularly performs with mezzo-soprano Nora Gubisch. Altinoglu has released audio recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, Naïve, Pentatone, and Cascavelle. DVD productions of Honegger’s ‘Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher’ (Accord), Wagner’s ‘Der fliegende Holländer’ (DG), ‘The Golden Cockerel’, ‘Iolanta’, ‘The Nutcracker’, and ‘Pelléas et Mélisande’ (BelAirClassiques) have also been released to critical acclaim.
Born in Paris, Alain Altinoglu studied at the Paris Conservatory National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he now teaches the conducting class.
source: Künstleragentur Dr. Raab & Dr. Böhm
Julian Rachlin is one of the most renowned artistic personalities of our time. In his 30+ year career, Mr. Rachlin’s multifaceted interests have taken him across the globe as a conductor, soloist, recording artist, chamber musician, teacher, and artistic director. As a violinist, Rachlin has shared the stage with virtually every major orchestra and conductor. A frequent presence on the conductor’s podium, his performances have thrilled audiences worldwide and his electrifying and sensitive interpretations have placed him at the forefront of classical music.
Julian Rachlin is chief conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. He will be touring Europe with the latter in the 2024/25 season.
"Rachlin is the real thing, a virtuoso with heart and a champion's bearing. "
— The Los Angeles Times
Rachlin’s elegant and dynamic style has cemented his reputation as conductor. Known for his meticulous rehearsal methods and superb musicianship, he has conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra as well as at the Grand Teton and Verbier festivals. Mr. Rachlin also served as principal guest conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and as principal artistic partner of the Royal Northern Sinfonia.
A major presence in the performing arts since the age of thirteen, Mr. Rachlin has spent over three decades cementing his reputation as one of the world’s premiere classical violinists. Recent highlights as soloist or as conductor include appearances with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra under Klaus Mäkelä, the Helsinki Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala under Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Yuri Termirkanov and the Munich Symphony Orchestra.
A strong proponent of expanding the relevance of classical music within today’s cultural framework, Mr. Rachlin’s projects with living composers and cross-media collaborations have brought together artists from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds and genres. He has worked closely with, and premiered works of, Krzysztof Penderecki, Giya Kancheli, Vangelis and Lera Auerbach. In 2000, he joined Mstislav Rostropovich in the premiere of Penderecki’s Sextet and Penderecki later wrote and dedicated the Concerto Doppio for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra as well as the Ciaccona for Violin and Viola to Mr. Rachlin. He has appeared in films, collaborated with digital installation artists, and has worked with noted personalities including John Malkovich, Sir Roger Moore, and Gerard Depardieu.
Rachlin’s renowned music festivals reflect his joie de vivre and passion for bringing great artists and international audiences together in a celebration of music and art. He frequently collaborates with longtime musical partners Martha Argerich, Evgeny Kissin, Denis Matsuev, Janine Jansen, Vilde Frang and Mischa Maisky. His untiring work and dedication for his "Julian Rachlin & Friends" festival in Dubrovnik, Croatia that ran for over a decade, has been recognized worldwide, and Mr. Rachlin has recently been appointed the 2021 artistic director of the Herbstgold Festival at the legendary Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria.
Dedicated to educating and supporting young talent, Mr. Rachlin founded the Julian Rachlin and Friends Foundation to help nurture the careers of extraordinary young musicians. Since 1999, Mr. Rachlin has served as a faculty member and professor at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna.
Mr. Rachlin is the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his work in the field of classical music, including as an Accademia Musicale Chigiana Siena Prize laureate, World Economic Forum “Young Global Leader", and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund. In 2013,
Mr. Rachlin performed alongside Zubin Mehta and the Bavarian State Orchestra at the historic “Peace for Kashmir” concert at the Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden in Srinagar, Kashmir, the first ever performance by a Western orchestra in that region.
Born in Lithuania, Rachlin emigrated to Vienna with his family at the age of three, where he studied violin under the renowned Boris Kuschnir at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. He also received private lessons from Pinchas Zukerman in New York City. Mr. Rachlin also completed conducting studies with Maestro Mariss Jansons and Sophie Rachlin and was mentored by Maestro Daniele Gatti.
Mr. Rachlin plays the 1704 "ex Liebig" Stradivari and a 1785 Lorenzo Storioni viola, on loan to him courtesy of the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung. His strings are kindly sponsored by Thomastik- Infeld. Mr. Rachlin’s critically acclaimed recordings can be heard on Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, and Warner Class.
source: Künstleragentur Dr. Raab & Dr. Böhm
About the programme
The concert is over, the encores have faded, and the ovations have died down—but no one wants the night to end. Aftertalks offer a way to keep the experience alive. The music may stop, but the artists remain—now relaxed, with a coffee, mineral water, or even a beer in hand—ready to chat with Jiří Vejvoda, both as moderator and quick-witted interpreter.
For those not ready to head home, this is a rare chance to peek behind the scenes and get to know musicians beyond their almost otherworldly performances. A warm, sociable atmosphere makes Aftertalks the perfect encore to an unforgettable evening.
We thank our partners for supporting the programme
