WOLFRAM CHRIST

Long-time legendary First Principal Viola of the Berlin Philharmonic, Principal Viola of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and Professor at Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, after one of the most rewarding career as soloist that has seen him played all over the world, Wolfram Christ, has become highly regarded as a conductor epitomising sincerity and musical integrity.

Praised for his exhilarating and sensitive interpretations, Wolfram Christ has worked with orchestras on five continents, including the orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, with whom he works regularly, the Munich and Scottish Chamber Orchestras, Royal Danish Orchestra Copenhagen, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Mozart of Bologna, Basque National Orchestra San Sebastián, Simón Bolívar Orchestra Caracas, Auckland Philharmonia, Johannesburg Philharmonic, KZN Philharmonic Orchestra Durban, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra Osaka, Bochum Symphony, German Radio Philharmonic Saarbrücken, Norwegian Wind Ensemble, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto and Camerata Madrid. He also toured the English Chamber Orchestra to an acclaimed performance at Lucerne Festival and had his debut with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in autumn 2019.

Between 2004 and 2008 Wolfram Christ was Chief Conductor of the Kurpfalz Chamber Orchestra Mannheim. Throughout this time he led the ensemble to a period of increased concert activity at home and abroad, and collaborated with internationally established soloists such as Sabine Meyer, Emmanuel Pahud, Albrecht Mayer, Simone Kermes and Renaud Capuçon.

He held the post of Principal Guest Conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra from 2009 to 2013, and highlights from his tenure include appearances at the Schleswig-Holstein and Lucerne Festivals in 2011, an extended tour of South America in 2012 as well as a project with pianist Hélène Grimaud in 2013.

Released in early 2014 on the Hänssler CLASSIC label, Wolfram Christ’s recording of C.P.E. Bach’s Hamburg Symphonies with Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra has received international critical acclaim and is widely regarded as the finest performance of these works. The disc has been described by Classics Today as “gripping... hands down, the best version of these remarkable pieces yet recorded” and as “interpreted with great sensitivity and bite, when necessary” by Presto Classical.

Recently appointed conductor in residence at the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto OPV further engagements will see him conducting at Lucerne Festival 2023 and Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova.

"Musically this concert was a real highlight! The versatile Wolfram Christ, long-time violist at the Berlin Philharmonic, founding member of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, soloist, chamber musician, teacher and conductor, took the baton in front of the superbly organised English Chamber Orchestra. Christ’s very dynamic conducting style was highly effective in these lively works, but also the slow moments were interpreted here in an elegant and balanced manner. Above all it was Wolfram Christ’s artistry that led the musicians to soaring heights throughout this concert […]" (concert with English Chamber Orchestra, Lucerne Festival)
Tageblatt

“Simply wonderful”
Classics Today

“Exalted and joyous playing”
Stuttgarter Zeitung

"Wolfram Christ, who captivated through his energetic conducting using every fibre of his being, engaged and carried the musicians away with his passion for music"
Südwest Presse