Omer Meir Wellber
Omer Meir Wellber (Hebrew: עומר מאיר ולבר; born 28 October 1981, Beersheba) is an Israeli conductor and composer.
Omer Meir Wellber | |
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עומר מאיר ולבר | |
Born | |
Occupation | conductor, composer |
Organization | Sarab - Strings of Change |
Website | www |
Biography
Wellber began musical studies at age 5, on accordion and piano. He became a composition student of Tania Taler at age 9.[1] He attended the music conversatory in Be'er Sheva, and graduated from there in 1999. He subsequently studied composition with Michael Wolpe, and continued studies on a scholarship from the American-Israel Cultural Foundation to continue his studies with Eugene Zirlin at the Jerusalem Music Academy and in the Mendi Rodan Programme. His compositions include:
- Suite for String Orchestra, Bassoon and Clarinet No. 1
- Mandolin Concerto
- Music for Ten Instruments
- Oboe Quintet (The Last Leaf)
- Viola Concerto
From 2008 to 2010, Wellber was an assistant conductor to Daniel Barenboim at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.[2] In 2009, he became music director of the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra. From 2011 to 2014, Wellber was music director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.[3][4] This appointment was unusual in that Wellber had not conducted with the company prior to his appointment.[1] In 2015, Wellber, Jacob Reuven and the Rahat-based Bedouin nonprofit A New Dawn in the Negev initiated the "Sarab - Strings of change" music education programme.
In March 2018, Wellber first guest-conducted the BBC Philharmonic. On the basis of this appearance, in October 2018, the orchestra announced the appointment of Wellber as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2019-2020 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.[5] In July 2018, the Teatro Massimo di Palermo announced the appointment of Wellber as its next music director, effective January 2020.[6] He became principal guest conductor of the Semperoper Dresden as of the 2018-2019 season. In December 2020, the Vienna Volksoper announced the appointment of Wellber as its next music director, effective 1 September 2022, with an initial contract of 5 years.[7]
Wellber's commercial recordings include Gioia, with Aleksandra Kurzak (Decca), DVD recordings of Eugene Onegin (C Major Entertainment) and of Aida (BelAir Classiques).
Wellber and his family make their home in Milan.[8]
References
- Julia Spinola (2015-10-08). "Viel Kurkuma in die Suppe". Die Zeit. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- Susanna Dal Monte (2011-05-27). ""Rigoletto" im Theater an der Wien". ORF Kulturjournal.
- Federico Simón (2010-02-23). "El israelí Wellber será el nuevo director del Palau de les Arts". El País. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- Manuel Brug (2010-10-12). "Am Pult der Zeit". Die Welt.
- "Omer Meir Wellber appointed new Chief Conductor of BBC Philharmonic" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- "Omer Meir Wellber dal 2020 sarà il nuovo Direttore musicale" (Press release). Teatro Massimo di Palermo. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
- "Omer Meir Wellber wird ab September 2022 neuer Musikdirektor der Volksoper Wien" (Press release). Volksoper Wien. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- Jörg Schurig (2017-04-12). "Dirigent Omer Meir Wellber: Mozart gibt uns Freiheit". Frankfurter Neue Presse. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
External links
- Official webpage of Omer Meir Wellber
- IMG Artists agency page on Omer Meir Wellber
- Nicholas Mathias agency page on Omer Meir Wellber
- 'Omer Meir Wellber in Munich, Birmingham, and Vienna'. PR2 Classic press release, via Musical America, 16 September 2015
Cultural offices | ||
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Preceded by Lorin Maazel |
Music Director, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia 2011–2014 |
Succeeded by Roberto Abbado |
Preceded by Juanjo Mena |
Chief Conductor, BBC Philharmonic 2019–present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
Preceded by Gabriele Ferro |
Music Director, Teatro Massimo di Palermo 2020–present |
Succeeded by incumbent |