Alexandra Knight
Artist Manager
+44 (0) 20 3350 1108
alexandra@knightclassical.com
Johan Pieters
Associate Artist Manager
+44 (0) 20 3880 9657
johan@knightclassical.com
Ángela Lorenzo
Assistant Artist Manager
angela@knightclassical.com
Joseph Bastian
“Joseph Bastian took over the program in a very sovereign way as a conductor, transforming this unexpected debut into an artistic triumph.”
Recent & Upcoming Highlights
Bayerische Staatsoper
Dresdner Philharmonie
DRP Saarbrücken-Kaiserslautern
Düsseldorfer Symphoniker
hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt
Orchestre National d’Île de France
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Staatskapelle Weimar
SWR Symphonieorchester
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
WDR Köln
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra Tokyo
Zürich Opera Studio
Video
Biography
Swiftly emerging as one of the most exciting talents of the younger generation, French-Swiss conductor Joseph Bastian is widely celebrated for his “total precision, and calm and masterful manner”, and renowned for the remarkable and tangible sense of partnership he creates with orchestral musicians.
The former Principal Bass Trombonist of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (‘BRSO’) (2004-2017), Bastian burst into the international spotlight in February 2016, when he stepped in at the last moment to conduct the orchestra in three subscription concerts – replacing an indisposed Robin Ticciati – with the blessing of his Chief Conductor and conducting supporter, Mariss Jansons. Embracing a demanding programme of Brahms, Berg, and Elgar, Bastian “took over in a very sovereign way as a conductor, transforming this unexpected debut into an artistic triumph” (Abendzeitung München). The event was widely heralded as a “sensational debut” – and Bastian was immediately re-invited. Bastian’s recent projects with the BRSO have included conducting the finals of the ARD International Music Competition (2018), and a contemporary programme of Boulez and Reich. During the performance of the latter, Bastian was awarded the prestigious Eugen-Jochum-Preis for Conducting (2019).
Read MoreHighlights of the 2020/2021 season include work with a number of leading orchestras, including the Bayerische Staatsoper, Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg, Orchestre Dijon-Bourgogne, Orchestre National d’Île de France, Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen, and the SWR Symphonieorchester, as well as the academies of the WDR Köln and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
This builds upon the success of the last two seasons, which have seen Bastian making an impressive number of major debuts across Europe and Asia in relatively short time. These have included, amongst others, the Bamberger Symphoniker, Bremer Philharmoniker, Dresdner Philharmoniker, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Nürnberger Symphoniker, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra. Amongst those performances requiring postponement due to the 2020 COVID19 pandemic were debuts with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne and DRP Saarbrücken-Kaiserslautern, as well a Zürich Opera House production of Haydn’s Il mondo della luna with the Zürich Opera Studio.
Born in France to a French-Swiss family, Bastian began his musical journey by studying the cello, trombone, and composition. After studies in trombone at the University of Music Saar, he performed as a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado and Pierre Boulez, and the Orchestra of the Academy of the Munich Philharmonic, before taking up his position as Principal Bass Trombonist with the BRSO.
During his tenure with the orchestra (a period which afforded him first-hand observation of the rehearsal techniques and performance styles of many of the world’s leading conductors), Bastian was helped and supported in his own conducting studies by Mariss Jansons, with whom he worked closely as an Assistant Conductor. He also worked as an Assistant to Daniel Harding (BR Choir, Symphony Orchestra, and Academy), and Vladimir Jurowski (London Philharmonic Orchestra), whilst receiving masterclasses and support from such artists as Bernard Haitink (Festival Strings Lucerne), Jorma Panula (Noord Nederlands Orkest), and David Zinman (Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich). Bastian further honed his skills as Chief Conductor of the Abaco-Orchestra of the University of Munich (2011-2018), touring the orchestra to such major European venues as Musikverein Wien. He was awarded the prestigious Neeme Järvi Prize at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy (2016), and went on to take the Gstaad Festival Orchestra on international tour during the 2016/2017 season. In spring 2018, Bastian took the decision to resign his position as Principal Bass Trombone, in order to dedicate himself fully to developing his rapidly expanding career on the conducting podium.
In addition to his planned 2020 work with the Zürich Opera Studio, Bastian’s operatic experience includes productions with BRSO, Bourgas State Opera, and Kammeroper München. Alongside the major symphonic repertoire, coupled with a dedication to the championing of contemporary works (including the recent world premieres of Fredrik Högberg’s Violin Concerto, and Aziza Sadikova’s Percussion Concerto), Bastian also has a keen interest in historically informed performance practice. During his earlier career as an orchestral musician, his expert knowledge of instruments such as the sackbut, serpent, and ophicleide saw him perform not only with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, but also with other such world-class ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Joseph Bastian lives in Munich with his wife – the soprano, Lydia Teuscher – and their two children.
News
Joseph Bastian debuts with Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
On 24 & 25 October 2020, Joseph Bastian makes his Spanish debut with the Barcelona Symphony...
Joseph Bastian & Deutsche Philharmonie Merck
Joseph Bastian conducts Fauré, Haydn, and Poulenc in Darmstadt on 18 October 2020, working with...
Joseph Bastian with the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra
On 8 & 9 October 2020, Joseph Bastian performs two concerts with the Württembergisches...
Reviews
“The best Barcelona Symphony Orchestra concert of the season – Bastian is a rising star to watch. A balanced and fascinating sound – careful use of percussion, the warmth of the strings, and the fineness and brilliance of woodwind and brass ensuring very beautiful moments expressing an imaginative universe. Bastian is a conductor who is both moving and sincere.”
“Bastian successfully strives for the very best on the podium. With his bare hands and elegantly rounded curves, he immediately models Haydn’s D major Symphony No.42 into the most important highlight of the concert…the orchestra shines with a velvety-soft noble sound and enormously plastic contrasts between rich forte and whisper-quiet piano.”