Jacek Kaspszyk

Jacek Kaspszyk

Conductor

Music Director of Poznań Opera

“Schubert’s Third Symphony was pure magic in Kaspszyk’s hands”
— The Herald Scotland

Contact

Lorna Neill

+44 (0)7798 531 819
lorna@musicinteralia.com

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Reviews Archive

“Sonorous and lush, stormy urgency and gripping, (Jacek Kaspszyk) makes his debut at the helm of the Hamburger Symphoniker, tackling the secret "fifth" symphony of Brahms. The Hamburg orchestra musicians revel threw themselves in the voluptuousness of the sound. The Hungarian "Gypsy" style of the finale is a real pleasure for both the listener and the players alike. Jacek Kaspszyk lets the orchestra off the leash to unbridled emotions. From the melancholic strains, to dance-like rhythms and the nod to folklore: a pure delight.”


Die Welt (Peter Krause), 29 October 2019

“Conductor Jacek Kaspszyk managed to release energies out of Sinfonia Lahti, that you do not often hear. [...] He created an atmosphere, which results from great musicality and understanding [and] enhanced the rich and colourful chord structure in a very spontaneous and natural way, whilst also maintaining a balanced sound in the climaxes.”

Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 18 March 2017

“The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra was the headline act in Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday, Nov. 6, and there was no denying the vibrancy and flair of the orchestra’s playing under Music Director Jacek Kaspszyk [...] After intermission, Kaspszyk led a performance of Brahms’ First Symphony that was at once robust and refined. It boasted plenty of rhythmic momentum in the opening movement (where Kaspszyk won my heart by taking the repeat, always the sign of a conductor who knows his trade), as well as gracefully translucent textures in the slow movement. The encore was a brisk and vividly colored account of Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” Overture — a surprising and frankly flattering tribute from a touring orchestra to its host country. It was a delightful close to an all-around rewarding evening.”

San Francisco Chronicle, 7 November 2016

“Schubert's Third Symphony was pure magic in Kaspszyk's hands. It never lost sight for one moment of the quintessential melodiousness that is the composer's hallmark. But to the Poles' light-footed and well-sprung presentation, Kaspszyk added another ingredient: Beethovenian weight. It gave the symphony an unusual solidity, firming up the delight.”

The Herald Scotland, May 2015

 

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Biography

One of Poland’s foremost conductors, Jacek Kaspszyk is Music Director of Poznań Opera, where he was previously Principal Guest Conductor and Music Advisor.  His coming season with the opera includes productions of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Fauré’s Requiem, Verdi’s Otello, and the new David Poutney production of Puccini’s Turandot.  Another highlight of the Poznań Opera season is a choral concert celebrating the Polish Independence Day in November with Penderecki’s Symphony No. 8. 

Jacek’s 2024/25 season began with a concert in the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall as a part of the Chopin Festival.  Throughout September, Jacek returned to China, where he conducted programmes with the China Philharmonic Orchestra in the Forbidden City Hall, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and Hangzhou Symphony Orchestra.    Later in September, he will conduct a concert of Schumann and Mendelssohn as a part of the La Folle Journée Festival in Warsaw.

Other highlights of the 2024/25 season include re-invitations to the Presidential Orchestra Ankara, Slovak Philharmonic Bratislava, and Warsaw Philharmonic.  Jacek will also be visiting Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra in November, and again in May for concerts in both Wrocław and at the Dresden Philharmonie.

Last season included a tour of China with the Warsaw Philharmonic and David Pountney’s new production of Verdi’s Otello at Poznań Opera, as well as debuts with Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid and with the İzmir State Symphony Orchestra.

Jacek has held the position of Artistic Director at both the Warsaw Philharmonic and the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, as well as the position of Music Director at both the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Polish National Opera.  He was previously Principal Conductor and Music Advisor of the Noord Nederlands Orkest, and he has is a long association with the Beethoven Academy Orchestra in Kraków.

Since his early success at the Karajan Conducting Competition in Berlin, Jacek has built strong relationships with orchestras all over the world.  European appearances include performances with the Berlin Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Bern Symphony Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Stockholm Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, The Orchestre national d'Île-de-France, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

In the UK, he has conducted all major London orchestras, the BBC Orchestras, including at the BBC Proms, the Royal Scottish National, the Hallé, the Ulster Orchestra, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.  In Asia, he has often visited Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, and has performed with Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra of India. 

Jacek’s opera performances include appearances with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Opéra Comique in Paris, Opéra de Lyon, Opéra de Bordeaux, English National Opera, Zurich Opera, and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.  
With Staatstheater Nürnberg, he conducted Szymanowski’s King Roger, and in 2017 he debuted at the Mariinsky Opera Orchestra at the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg. 

As a recording artist, Jacek has especially been recognised for his interpretation of Polish composers’ works.  His recording of Lutosławski’s Symphonies No. 2 & 4 with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic received the 2011 Fryderyk Award for Album of the Year, Symphonic and Concert Music, and with the Polish National Opera, he recorded Szymanowski’s King Roger.  Other recordings include with the Warsaw Philharmonic for Warner Classics include a performance of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater and Symphony No. 3, and his 2018 CD release featured Młynarski’s Symphony Polonia, Penderecki’s Polonaise, and Weinberg’s Polish Melodies. 

He enjoys a long-standing collaboration with pianist Martha Argerich, having regularly conducted at the Progetto Martha Argerich Festival in Lugano, and having recorded several acclaimed CDs for EMI.   

Jacek received the prestigious Elgar Medal in recognition of his performances of Elgar's works, joining other recipients of the award, Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Andrew Litton, and Leonard Slatkin.  He was also awarded the Lutosławski Medal following an all-Lutosławski programme for the Warsaw Autumn Festival in October 2013. 

 
William BurtonConductor