Freelance Conductor
Freischaffender Dirigent
Classical conductor, pianist and recording artist based in Europe.
“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
Upcoming Performances
Reviews
Reviews
DIE KRÖNUNG DER POPPEA | Monteverdi x Boesmans
Oper Wuppertal 2023
The Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, under the excellently careful direction of Matthew Toogood, presents Philippe Boesmans' reconstruction of the opera faultlessly, cleanly, and precisely.
- Sibylle Eichhorn, Das Opernmagazin, 2023.
With Matthew Toogood at the podium, the Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra of Innsbruck has the opportunity to demonstrate its versatility. Massenet’s score calls for exuberant folklore as well as delicate melancholy. It delivers on both counts.
- Markus Schramek, Tiroler Tageszeitung, 22.06.2026.
Under the direction of Matthew Toogood, the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra plays with exceptional delicacy, mostly in piano or pianissimo. It’s a superb orchestral accompaniment of minimalist design, inviting the audience to listen with great attention to detail.
- Stefan Schmöe, Wuppertal Rundschau, 2023.
Matthew Toogood works with the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra with great sensitivity, bringing out these nuances and placing the music entirely in the service of what is happening on stage.
- Uli Rehwald, IOCO Kultur im Netz, 2023.
JENŮfA | Janáček
Stadtheater Bern (Bühnen Bern) 2021
Matthew Toogood, 1st Kapellmeister and interim Music Director at Konzert Theater Bern, created a reduced orchestral version based on the 1908 Brno version, with permission from Universal Edition...
Despite the smaller orchestra, Toogood's arrangement retains the colors and typical Janáček sound with just 16 musicians... Under his focused and intense direction, the Bern Symphony Orchestra brings the score to life, contributing to the evening’s great success.
- Jan Krobot, Online Merker, 2021.
OTELLO | Verdi
Stadtheater Bern (Bühnen Bern) 2020
Under the direction of Matthew Toogood, the interim music director from Australia, the Bern Symphony Orchestra conjures up magnificent color play…The orchestra plays with such clarity that Verdi's harmonic daring shines through without compromise
- Peter Hagmann, Mittwochs um Zwölf, 2020.
KRÓL ROGER | Szymanowski
Stadtheater Bern (Bühnen Bern) 2019
Here, one experiences power – even if it’s only the power of sound – in its full force. And one sees that the almost unmanageably vast whole is directed by a single hand. All the threads come together in it. It holds the baton. It sets the tempo. It is the hand of conductor Matthew Toogood.
- Michel Schaer, Burgdorf, Die Stimme der Kritik für Bümpliz und die Welt, 2019.
Matthew Toogood is thus the eloquent advocate of this opera and leads the large Bern Symphony Orchestra to an impressive, colorful, and – where necessary – stirring sound world.
- Kaspar Sannemann, Oper Aktuell, 2019.
PIPPI LANGSRUMPF | Wittenbrink
Komische Oper Berlin 2022
The musical mix of classical and jazz is stylishly performed by the orchestra of the Komische Oper, without overshadowing the singing voices, greatly benefiting the clarity of the lyrics. Conductor Matthew Toogood – like everyone on stage – receives a Pippi Longstocking wig for the finale, and the big party can begin in the Villa Villekulla.
- Laura Luckenbach, Tagesspiegel, 2022.
POPPEA | Monteverdi x Kats-Chernin
Komische Oper Berlin 2017
Kosky translates Monteverdi's concept of a singing speech, the parlar cantando, into his production. The resulting approach, deriving the musical form from and in relation to the text, finds a strong partner in Matthew Toogood, who confidently articulates Kosky's vision. The orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin blends early Baroque sound structures with touches of flamenco, jazz, tango, and ragtime to create a Monteverdi of Kosky's own style. It’s a dance on the volcano: loud, bold, colorful, and erotic.
- Peter Rytz, Erpery Review, 2017.
DON QUICHOTTE | Massenet
Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck 2026
From the orchestra pit, there was no hint of a season finale. Matthew Toogood had the superbly prepared Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra of Innsbruck fully attuned to Massenet’s sumptuous, melodious musical language and enchanted the audience. They received enthusiastic applause.
- Dietmar Plattner, Online Merker, 22.06.2026.
The TSOI, conducted by Matthew Toogood, offered many truly beautiful musical moments, particularly in the lyrical passages.
- Albert Schwarzmann, schoepfblog, 21.06.2026.
The Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra of Innsbruck, conducted by Toogood, performed with equal skill: the opera’s sweeping melodies were brought to the main auditorium with sensitivity, yet in a thoroughly gripping and rousing manner. Enthusiastic applause from the premiere audience was also directed at Toogood.
- Markus Stegmayr, Salzburger Nachrichten, 21.06.2026.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY | Puccini
Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck 2026
From the orchestra pit, conductor Matthew Toogood brings Puccini’s sensual soundscape to life with virtuosity, verve and, at other times, great subtlety.
- Dr. Charles E. Ritterband, Klassik Begeistert, 2026.
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
