Alfred Eschwé

When were you first enchanted by (musical) theatre in your life? And what was it that enchanted you?

I was very fortunate to be able to take up a position as a conductor at a musical theatre immediately after completing my studies. Since then, I have been captivated by opera and operetta, and this fascination continues to this day.

Why do people sing and why don't they speak?

I would like to answer this question with a quote from Victor Hugo: ‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’

What role can/should musical theatre play in today's society?

Musical theatre can entertain and shock, depending on the genre, but it must also take a clear stand and denounce and condemn problematic social developments (keyword: populism).

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Born in

Vienna (Austria)

Education

Musical training at the Conservatory and the University of Music, including as a student of the legendary Hans Swarowsky 

Important Engagements

1998: Debut at the Hamburg State Opera, where he conducted an extensive opera repertoire, including the new production of The Love for Three Oranges in 2001.

2003: Debut at the Vienna State Opera with The Magic Flute

Conductor in Residence at the Vienna Volksoper

Further important Engagements

Munich State Opera, Semperoper Dresden, Berlin State Opera, Zurich Opera, New National Theatre in Tokyo, Finnish National Opera, Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro Bellini in Catania, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Teatro Verdi in Trieste, ... 

Formative collaboration with these artists

Anna Netrebko, Roland Villazón, Franz Grundheber, Peter Minich, Bo Skovhus, Harry Kupfer, Robert Herzl, Peter Lund

Debut at the Volksoper Wien

Eberhard Waechter brought him to the Volksoper in 1989 (debut with Gasparone). Since then, Alfred Eschwé has conducted over 900 performances at the Volksoper. He oversees an extensive repertoire of operas (Eugen Onegin, Die Sache Makropoulos, König Kandaules, Der Evangelimann, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Carmen, Boris Godunow, Die Hochzeit des Figaro, Don Giovanni, Hänsel und Gretel, Der Barbier von Sevilla, Rigoletto, La traviata, Tosca, Hoffmann Erzählungen, Tiefland, Rusalka and Turandot) an operettas (Die lustige Witwe, Die Fledermaus, Das Land des Lächelns, Wiener Blut, Die Csárdásfürstin and Der Zigeunerbaron)

* Use of the photograph solely for the purpose of current reporting on the Vienna Volksoper