Following his success with his premiere of "Frau ohne Schatten" at the Vlaamse Opera, Alexander Joel has been invited to conduct the revival of La Boheme at Covent Garden in February 2013, as well as a premiere of Tosca at the Israeli Opera in 2014.

Highlights in 2011/2012 include a premiere of "Forza del Destino" with Michael Thalheimer at the Vlaamse opera, and Premieres of Tristan and Isolde, Luisa Miller, Nozze di Figaro and Turandot at the Staatstheater Braunschweig, as well as revivals of Rigoletto and la Traviata at the Semper Oper Dresden, Don Carlos at the Staatsoper Hamburg and Tosca at the Deutsche oper Berlin. He will also be covering a large concert repertoire, including such works as beethoven 9th Symphony and Mahler´s 2nd Symphony.

In 2012/2013, he will make his debut with La Boheme in Covent Garden, as well as conduct new productions of Madama Butterfly at the Staatsoper Hamburg and the Grand Theatre de Genève.

In 2013/2014, he will conduct new Productions of Macbeth at the Royal opera House in Copenhagen, Otello in Santiago di Chile, and Tosca at the Israel National opera.

Please go to homepage Link for the full Biography.

News

Forza del Destino, regie Michael Thalheimer, Vlaamse Opera

Preview Forza del Destino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsXwYu9g28Q

...Dafür aber wird klangliche und kinetische Energie pur geboten, direkt und herausfordernd ins Publikum hingeschleudert; es lodert krass und unverstellt aus dem Orchestergraben. Und plötzlich funktioniert ein Werk, das musikalisch begeistert, aber intellektuell eigentlich noch bescheuerter ist als der "Troubadour"....an der Flämischen Oper in Antwerpen, wahrlich kein De-Luxe-Haus auf monetärem Gebiet, hat man alles richtig gemacht...Man hat in Alexander Joel einen Generalmusikdirektor, dem pure Energieexplosionen wichtiger sind als weicher Wohlklang. Und der sich in diesem grellen, mit scharfen Kontrasten und Schnitten arbeitenden Bilderbogen in der noch nihilistischeren Petersburger Originalfassung von 1862 einfräst. Bei ihm brodelt das Orchester, gefällig mag es anderswo sein. Und doch blüht auch momentweise Klarinettenpoesie, da singen sich Chöre zur Madonna ins Paradies....
http://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/kultur/article13865279/Blutigrot-ist-die-Farbe-der-Toene.html
Die Welt, Manuel Brug, 13.2.2012

New Cover Story in Orpheus Opera Magazine
Link



Reviews Tristan und Isolde
New Cover Story in Orpheus Opera Magazine
Link

Forza del destino Critics, Vlaamse

„For Regisseur Michael Thalheimer to trust the music, implies relying on the quality of the musical direction and the singers: in this regard, the Vlaamse Opera Forza production is breathtaking: Alexander Joel- already known in Antwerp for his „Don Carlos“ and „Die Frau ohne Schatten“- combines perfectly the feeling of long phrases as well as taking care of all the details of the score, while demanding a lot on the one hand, yet trusting (observing him conduct is like getting a masterclass in conducting) and in so doing obtaining everything from the singers and from the orchestra.“ La Libre, 11.2.2012

„To obtain this, is in the first place the Task of the music, which lends every opera production its own pulse and rhythm. The Verdi Production of the Flanders Opera develops from the very first bars a surging drive and power. Alexander Joel has perfect control over the orchestra, and demands on the one hand Allegro brilliance, as well sufficient space and breath for the elegic-lyric passages. This Vlaanders opera „Forza del Destino“ production can easily compare itself to any repertoire performances in the big capitals like Paris or Vienna“ Neue Musikzeitung, 12.2.2012

http://vlaamseopera.be/en#!/productions/la-forza-del-destino#mediaArticle

Reviews Tristan und Isolde

Reviews  (English translation) Tristan and Isolde

 

„Tristan and Isolde must surely be one Wagner’s opera’s with the least interesting libretto, and that gives the orchestra the most important role in any performance of the opera, and Braunschweig’s Generalmusikdirektor Alexander Joel makes the most of this. Colours glow, glisten and sparkle everywhere, and the mysterious, dark and raw colours of the score also come to the surface. Joel is not scared of a rich dynamic, yet always keeps a sensitive ear for the stage, and gives the voices enough room to come through. The Staatsorchester Braunschweig follows with him with the utmost concentration, and impresses with a mixture  beautifull sound and precision.“  Christian Schütte, Opernnetz 08.11.2011


„...Braunschweig Generalmusikdirektor Alexander Joel carries the singers with both hands, creates levels on which the voices can blossom, yet also sharpens the sound of the score, brings out the dramatic highlights and the sensitive moments of exctasy....“ Opernwelt, December 2012