The Conductor
Over his 40 years as leader of the illustrious Alban Berg Quartet Guenter Pichler appeared at all the world’s major music centers. For more than 20 of those years he was also active as a conductor and, since the Alban Berg Quartet disbanded in 2008, he has intensified his conducting activity with orchestras around the world while remaining committed to his teaching posts at Universities in Vienna, Cologne and Madrid. His conducting engagements have included the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Wiener Kammerorchester, Hallé Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Royal Flanders Philharmonic, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra della Toscana, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Real Filharmonia de Galicia, Orchestre National de Lille, I Pomeriggi di Milano, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra and a number of Japanese Orchestras, including the Tokyo,Osaka and Sendai Philharmonic, NHK Orchestra and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, of which he is now Artistic Advisor, having been its first guest conductor from 2001 to 2006.
In collaborating with players to realise the composer’s intentions and provide a fulfilling experience for the audience, Pichler draws on his own time as an orchestral musician at the beginning of his career. At the age of just 18 he was leader of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra; shortly afterwards, on the invitation of Herbert von Karajan, he became leader of the Vienna Philharmonic, going on to perform under the baton of such figures as Knappertsbusch, Klemperer, Kleiber Karajan Böhm and Bernstein.
Now, as a conductor, Guenter Pichler encourages interaction and trust between orchestral players, creating an ensemble of inviduals who listen to each other with sensitivity, a sense of personal responsibility and, as a consequence, pleasure. The full dynamism of his interpretations becomes apparent during rehearsals and he has frequently received return invitations to orchestras before the first concert.
The reactions of the critics are equally positive. “Pichler is not only a world-class chamber musician and violinist, but also an orchestral trainer and a conductor of true stature,” stated Vienna’s Die Presse, while the Sueddeutsche Zeitung observed that he “is also able to exercise his extraordinary skills as a chamber musician from the conductor’s podium”. In the UK, the Guardian praised him as: “precise and stylish of beat; he instantly eased the Hallé strings into best form . Clearly the Hallé enjoyed making music with such a good-humoured artist and his stature as a great string player in his own right showed through his conducting.” In Japan, the respected Asahi Shimbun declared that: “intensity, the most detailed articulation, perfect tempos and an excellent sense for mounting excitement were essential to this involving performance of the NHK Orchestra.” Guenter Pichler’s repertoire as a conductor extends from the Classical and Romantic periods through the 20th century to contemporary music, such as Luciano Berio’s Notturno, which he premiered at the Lucerne Festival.
Reviews
VIENNA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA VIENNA KONZERTHAUS
Die Presse - Vienna
Mozart – Schubert - Ligeti
He guaranteed a light, splendidly articulated, inspiring performance, full of enthusiasm, and he really let the sounds breathe. The Vienna Chamber Orchestra under his direction played marvellously, only possible under the leadership of a sensitive musician. Guenter Pichler is a wonderful conductor.
VIENNA KONZERTHAUS
Die Presse - Vienna
Guenter Pichler is not only a great string player and chamber musician, but also an orchestral educator, a conductor of real stature.
GUENTER PICHLER / KURT MASUR TWO INTERESTING CONDUCTORS
Die Presse - Vienna
Pichler had really worked out all the significant details; and he did this with an easy-going concentration, so that one could believe he has done nothing but his during his whole (successful) life.
ISRAEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA HERKULES HALL, MUNICH
S-D Zeitung
Pichler’s refined interpretation showed that he obviously understands very well how to transfer his exceptional musicianship in chamber music to the conducting podium. He is a master of balancing opposing tensions.
ISRAEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MAIN HALL, VIENNA MUSIKVEREIN
Die Presse - Vienna
Pichler understands how to transfer to the orchestra those legendary qualities he has for many years exhibited in the Alban Berg Quartett. The music-lovers of Vienna experienced a meticulously conceived interpretation of the “Haffner” Symphony, perhaps the most lively and entertaining Mozart we have heard in this city for a long time.
HALLÉ ORCHESTRA FREE TRADE HALL, MANCHESTER
Manchester Guardian
Austrian conductor Günter Pichler on the podium last night: precise and stylish of beat; he instantly eased the Hallé strings into the best form I have heard from them for quite a while. Clearly the Hallé enjoyed making music with such a good-humoured artist and his stature as a great string player in his own right showed through his conducting.
NHK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TOKYO
Yomiuri, Tokyo
Guenter Pichler succeeded in a highly dramatic, and at the same time sensitive and poetic performance of the “Unfinished” by F. Schubert. We have not heard the NHK orchestra that intense for a long time. Asahi Shinbun, Osaka The interpretation of Symphony no.7 and Symphony no.8 under Pichler’s baton in the Beethoven cycle at Izumi Hall was a highlight. Gentle, most delicate articulation, perfect tempi, excellent raising of tensions: all were significant factors for this thrilling performance.
Management
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