Courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera
“Kamensek is experienced in Glass’s operas, and under her the orchestra sounded right at home. There was an excellent balance of instrumental colors—and with the singers—and the playing had focus and equipoise, the kind of warmth one can feel, and it flowed and built a profoundly affecting momentum while always held with a light and certain grip.” – New York Classical Review, 2019
About Karen
The 2019/20 season demonstrates Karen Kamensek’s remarkable versatility and expansive artistry. Among her high-profile conducting debuts this season is her long-awaited Metropolitan Opera debut with Glass’ Akhnaten—a production, under her direction, that recently won the coveted Olivier Award in London—as well as debuts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Diverse repertoire, additional debuts, welcome returns and dynamic collaborations round out Ms. Kamensek’s 2019/20 season. Works by Glass, Takemitsu, Pépin, Shankar, Beethoven, Mozart, Walton and Ravel outline her numerous guest-conducting appearances.
Ms. Kamensek will make additional debuts in 2019/20 with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Minnesota Opera conducting Mozart’s Don Giovanni. A new production of Puccini’s La Bohème will usher in her welcome return to the Göteborg Opera.
In 2019/20 Ms. Kamensek will collaborate with such renowned singers as Anthony Roth Costanzo and J’Nai Bridges; directors such as Phelim McDermott; and instrumentalists such as Daniel Hope, Alban Gerhardt and Anoushka Shankar.
Upcoming Performances
Due to the impact of the global pandemic, Ms. Kamensek's upcoming performances are subject to change. Please continue to check her schedule for the most up to date information.
October 21, 2020
Helsingborg Concert Hall
Sanna Gibbs, soprano
Karen Kamensek, conductor
The music of the spheres
Osvaldo Golijov: Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra
Aaron Jay Kernis: Musica Celestis for Strings
Joseph Canteloube: Selection from Songs of the Auvergne
November 18, 2020
Tyrol Hall
Karen Kamensek, conductor
Lise de la Salle, piano
Beethoven: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E flat major op.73
Aaron Jay Kernis: Musica Celestis for strings
Fazil Say: Symphonic Dances (Austrian premiere)
November 19, 2020
Tyrol Hall
Karen Kamensek, conductor
Lise de la Salle, piano
Beethoven: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E flat major op.73
Aaron Jay Kernis: Musica Celestis for strings
Fazil Say: Symphonic Dances (Austrian premiere)
November 20, 2020
Tyrol Hall
Karen Kamensek, conductor
Lise de la Salle, piano
Beethoven: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E flat major op.73
Aaron Jay Kernis: Musica Celestis for strings
Fazil Say: Symphonic Dances (Austrian premiere)
November 27, 2020
Opéra Berlioz / Le Corum
Elza Van den Heever, soprano
Karen Kamensek, conductor
Camille Pépin: Laniakea
R. Strauss: Intermezzo – Quatre Interludes symphoniques
Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder
Wagner: Tristan et Isolde - Prélude et Liebestod pour orchestra
“...Karen Kamensek’s authoritative conducting of the Met orchestra...From the start of the overture, the score bathed the ear in textured sound that conveyed, in its gently shifting luminosity, something of the distance of the archaic.”
The Washington Post, 2019
"Kamensek…deservedly earning the biggest applause of the night during the final curtain.”
Opera Wire, 2019
“...conductor Karen Kamensek weaves everything into a wonderful, ever shifting tapestry of sound.”
Bachtrack, 2016
“Keeping it all under a tight rein was conductor Karen Kamensek, making a most laudable ENO debut. The orchestra clearly found her direction stimulating, as they were on top form throughout.”
Seen and Heard International, 2016
Ms. Kamensek talks with Operabiz Podcast host Daniel Welch about making her Metropolitan Opera conducting debut this season, her road to conducting, her collaboration with Philip Glass, and a largely European career. She shares her insights on Glass' music as well as a fresh perspective on life on the podium.
Images
Contact
For booking information, please contact:
ARSIS Artist Management GmbH
in collaboration with Michael Lewin International
Mag. Gabriele Trombitas
Managing Director
+ 43 699 1075 4898
Schleifmühlgasse 7/11 I A-1040 Wien
For public relations inquiries, please contact:
Raechel Alexander
RA Communications