Biography

Marek Janowski is recognized throughout the world for his interpretations of the works of Wagner, R. Strauss, Bruckner, Brahms, Hindemith, and the Second Viennese School. He begins his post as Chief Conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic with the 2019-20 season; he previously served in this position from 2001 to 2003. From 2002 to 2016 he was artistic director of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSB), with whom he recorded a live Wagner opera cycle in Berlin's Philharmonie released on Pentatone in 2016.

In the 2018-19 season Mr. Janowski conducts the Dresden Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Oslo Philharmonic, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. In both 2016 and 2017 he conducted Wagner's Ring Cycle at Bayreuth. Mr. Janowski has been a regular visitor to North America since his US debut in 1983 with San Francisco Opera. In the three decades since, he has forged lasting relationships with many top orchestras including those of Boston, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in 1990. Other US orchestras and opera companies he has conducted include the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.  

Born in Warsaw and educated in Germany, Mr. Janowski's artistic path led him from assistant positions in Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg to his appointment as general music director in Freiburg im Breisgau (1973 to 1975) and Dortmund (1975 to 1979). In 1984 he was named music director of Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, which he led for fifteen seasons. During his tenure in Paris, he also served as chief conductor of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne (1986 to 1990) and as principal guest conductor of the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (1997 to 1999). From 2000 to 2005 he was music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo.

Mr. Janowski's discography over the past thirty years is represented on several labels and includes complete symphonic cycles and operas, many of which have been awarded international prizes. His recording of Wagner's complete Ring Cycle with the Staatskapelle Dresden, remains one of the most distinguished offerings of its kind. His recent Bruckner symphony cycle with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, recorded for Pentatone, was also acclaimed.

(May 2019)