After being named the Head of Music at Germany’s Komische Oper Berlin earlier this year, Tapestry Opera’s resident conductor Jordan de Souza has now been appointed full Kapellmeister, starting the 2017/18 season.
While his original role as Head of Music entailed leading up to eight productions with the KOB, this new position expands to his leading approximately 45 performances per season, including several titles in the repertoire (Wiederaufnahme). He will also conduct a new production staged by Barrie Kosky (2016 Director of the Year), and a symphony concert in the orchestra’s series.
De Souza said he was initially surprised at the appointment, but felt grateful calling Germany, “the land of opportunity for musicians.” He added he looked “forward to being able to shape the musical life of this great opera house.”
After first making his mark shaping contemporary opera in Toronto, this new role firmly establishes the 28-year-old de Souza within the German opera community.
Last season he directed performances of Mozart’s “Figaro” with the Canadian Opera Company’s and Verdi’s “Requiem” with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, he will conduct 13 performances of “Carmen” with the Wiener Symphoniker and Kaspar Holten at the Bregenz Festival in Austria this summer.
Founded in 1947 by Walter Felsenstein, KOB specializes in productions of German musical theatre and opera. It was awarded “Opera Company of the Year” by the International Opera Awards in London in 2015.
De Souza said he will finish out the season on his current Studienleiter contract.
Correction, Oct 18, 11:50 p.m.: A previous version stated de Souza would be starting his new position as Kapellmeister for the 2016/17 season when in fact it will be the following 2017/18 season.
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