Biography
Philippe Bach maintains a broad conducting practice that spans both opera houses and concert halls across multiple countries with rich and varied musical heritages. He has occupied principal artistic posts at two historic German opera companies.
Born in 1974 in the Swiss town of Saanen near Bern, Bach began his formal training on the French horn, pursuing studies in that instrument in Bern and Geneva before turning to conducting. His teachers in that discipline included Johannes Schlaefli at the Zurich University of the Arts and Mark Elder at the Royal Northern College of Music; he supplemented this preparation through master classes with Sir Colin Davis, Peter Eötvös, and David Zinman. After capturing first prize in the Lopez Cobos International Opera Conductors Competition in Madrid, he gained wider recognition throughout Spain and, in 2006, was appointed assistant conductor at the Teatro Real. Bach made his debut there leading Madama Butterfly in 2007. The following year he appeared as guest conductor for Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel at the Hamburg State Opera, an engagement that led to further work in northern Germany. Between 2008 and 2010 he served as Kapellmeister and deputy general music director at the Theater Lübeck, where his repertoire encompassed both German and Russian operas, among them Wagner’s Das Rheingold. Beginning with the 2010-2011 season he became music director of the Meininger Theater and the Meininger Hofkapelle in southern Germany, a position he continues to hold while also appearing with the Bern Chamber Orchestra and the Graubünden Chamber Philharmonic.
In guest engagements Bach has led such prominent European ensembles as the London Philharmonic, the BBC Philharmonic, and the Helsinki Philharmonic. In 2020 he conducted the Bern Chamber Orchestra in Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2 (“The American Four Seasons”) with violinist Piotr Plawner.
Born in 1974 in the Swiss town of Saanen near Bern, Bach began his formal training on the French horn, pursuing studies in that instrument in Bern and Geneva before turning to conducting. His teachers in that discipline included Johannes Schlaefli at the Zurich University of the Arts and Mark Elder at the Royal Northern College of Music; he supplemented this preparation through master classes with Sir Colin Davis, Peter Eötvös, and David Zinman. After capturing first prize in the Lopez Cobos International Opera Conductors Competition in Madrid, he gained wider recognition throughout Spain and, in 2006, was appointed assistant conductor at the Teatro Real. Bach made his debut there leading Madama Butterfly in 2007. The following year he appeared as guest conductor for Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel at the Hamburg State Opera, an engagement that led to further work in northern Germany. Between 2008 and 2010 he served as Kapellmeister and deputy general music director at the Theater Lübeck, where his repertoire encompassed both German and Russian operas, among them Wagner’s Das Rheingold. Beginning with the 2010-2011 season he became music director of the Meininger Theater and the Meininger Hofkapelle in southern Germany, a position he continues to hold while also appearing with the Bern Chamber Orchestra and the Graubünden Chamber Philharmonic.
In guest engagements Bach has led such prominent European ensembles as the London Philharmonic, the BBC Philharmonic, and the Helsinki Philharmonic. In 2020 he conducted the Bern Chamber Orchestra in Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2 (“The American Four Seasons”) with violinist Piotr Plawner.
Albums
