The lecture series Samhengi welcomes the music director of the Opera Richard Schwennicke on Friday, October 2, where he will discuss selected projects he has worked on, including as a composer, music director, pianist and conductor. In the lecture What makes a good opera and how do you practice it, Richard examines the challenges facing opera performances, whether it is new works or a classical repertoire, and provides an insight into the inner workings of an opera house and the exciting and challenging journey of bringing an idea to the stage.
The event is open to everyone.
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The lecture series Context of welcomes the Icelandic National Opera's music director Richard Schwennicke on Friday, October 2nd, where he will discuss selected projects he has worked on, variably as a composer, pianist and conductor. In the lecture What Makes a Good Opera and How Do You Rehears It, Richard expores the challenges opera productions face, whether new pieces or classical repertoire, offering into the inner works of an opera company and the exciting, challenge process of bringing an idea to the stage.
The event is open to all.
Richard Schwennicke is a pianist and conductor from Germany. He currently serves as the first music director of the newly founded Icelandic National Opera.
Richard studied piano and conducting in Hannover with Martin Brauß and Gerrit Zitterbart and started his career at the opera houses of Darmstadt, Kassel, and Hannover. Before coming to Iceland, Richard worked at Vienna State Opera house with world-renowned conductors and singers, such as Christian Thielemann, Simone Young or Philippe Jordan.
Beyond opera, Richard has fostered a special interest in contemporary music. He has composed an opera, Wüstinnen (premied in Berlin, 2024) and collaborated with composers such as Bára Gísladóttir, Chaya Czernowin and Lucia Ronchetti.