Freelance classical conductor, pianist and recording artist based in Berlin, Germany.
Upcoming Performances
“The grandiose thing here is the musical form.
Based on the stark Brno version, still spared from later romanticising adaptations, musical director Matthew Toogood created a radically soloistic score”
Photo: Florian Spring
Recordings
Björk: Vespertine
Nationaltheater Mannheim 2018
An album as an opera. Pop music is theatrical, it lives on stories, constantly creating new characters of art. In addition, no other style has changed and influenced music reception so enduringly as pop music. Most people can draw biographical references on the map of pop music. So, it seems high time to open the doors of the opera to a new visitor.
With its symphonic elements, dramatic singing lines and ethereal choir vocals, Vespertine seems to be the perfect model for the complex project. Oehms Classics begins the new partnership with the Nationaltheater Mannheim (NTM Edition) with a bang.
Rarely has a premiere in Germany experienced such a press echo as this did in May 2018.
Conducted by Matthew Toogood
Composed by Björk Guðmundsdóttir / Kommando Himmelfahrt
Orchester des Nationaltheater Mannheim
Recordings
Get Well Soon: Vexations
Nationaltheater Mannheim 2016
German songwriter Konstantin Gropper and his project GET WELL SOON have always been good for a surprise. Following his really sweet 2016 LP Love (who scorred a number 9 position at NBHAP’s ‘Albums of the Year’ list) he now re-released his second LP Vexations from 2010 in an entirely new version. Gropper reworked the entire record with the Orchestra of the Nationaltheater Mannheim, conducted by Matthew Toogood. The clue is that Vexations16 is not just another ‘band plus orchestra’ attempt (which Gropper obviously can’t stand) but one where the entire arrangement and instrumentation was done by the orchestra instead.
Conducted by Matthew Toogood
Composed by Konstantin Gropper / Kommando Himmelfahrt
Orchester des Nationaltheater Mannheim
