The well-established Dutch/South African conductor Conrad van Alphen has gained tremendous popularity with orchestras and audiences alike for the manner in which he rehearses and performs. As international guest conductor Conrad works with some of the world's most respected orchestras, such as the Montreal and Svetlanov Symphony Orchestras, the Stuttgart, Brussels, Bogota and Moscow Philharmonics, the Bochumer Symphoniker as well as the Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
'Van Alphen's alert energy and awareness were in-suppressible'. – Andy Wilding
biography
At the turn of the new millennium, Conrad founded Sinfonia Rotterdam, of which he remains chief conductor and artistic director. The orchestra presents concert series at de Doelen in Rotterdam, at the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague and at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Under Conrad's leadership, it has become an internationally recognised ensemble, has made acclaimed recordings, and has toured Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, Chile, China and Russia. As a recording artist, he has worked with Channel Classics, Telarc, Raptus, Talent Records, Cybele and Brilliant Classics. His disc of music by Rodrigo with the Sinfonia Rotterdam received Gramophone Magazine's Editor's Choice accolade, while his recent recording of the Hérold piano concertos with the WDR Radio Orchestra in Cologne was highly acclaimed by American Record Guide. Conrad was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1963. After his music studies he moved to The Netherlands at the age of 26, where he joined the double bass section of the Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hilversum, and the Beethoven Academie, Antwerp. He studied conducting with Eri Klas and Roberto Benzi.
'Van Alphen's musical magic'. – Paul Boekool
Conrad van Alphen enjoys a particularly close association with the Russian National Orchestra and as artist of the Moscow Philharmonic Society he has regularly conducted the major Moscow orchestras and many more throughout Russia. For four years he was chief conductor of the State Safonov Philharmonic Orchestra. Conrad works with soloists of the highest caliber. He has collaborated with Janine Jansen, Daniel Hope, Benjamin Schmid, Quirine Viersen, Ronald Brautigam, Alban Gerhardt, Simone Lamsma and Nikita Boriso-Glebsky among many others. He enjoys a regular and close collaboration with master-pianist Mikhail Pletnev.
'What a lovely sound they produce'. – Andrew Farach-Colton, Gramophone Magazine
calendar
videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQJMvjwrxnc; Saint Saëns Symphony no.3 – Organ Symphony – Sinfonia Rotterdam/Van Alphen; 36:39;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQo7TtV2HWk; Britten Violin Concerto – Boriso-Glebsky / Van Alphen; 35:06;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7FUxBU-QmI; Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no.1 – Mechetina / Van Alphen; 36:15;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaiDhRoe5NM; Mendelssohn Overture Midsummernights Dream – Van Alphen; 13:42;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQCvP-YKMpg; Beethoven Symphony no.6 op.68 "Pastorale" – Sinfonia Rotterdam / Conrad van Alphen; 45:55;
"In tonight's concert in the National Concert Hall, Sinfonia Rotterdam gave a very beautiful, radiant and charming performance! In Haydn's music tonight the performers beautifully presented the most lovely and intimate music in the world. For me, Haydn was the best Haydn tonight! Even better than the Haydn we heard from the Berlin Philharmonic last year. Furthermore the Dutch musicians have convinced me that without period instruments Haydn can also be performed brilliantly and perfectly!" (Review Sinfonia Rotterdam Concert in NCPA Beijing by Wang Jiyan)
"The Barshai arrangement has been used but Van Alphen's interpretation is nothing if not personal. He secures aggression without loss of articulation in the Allegro, dispatching the Allegretto with a kee irony, the keeping the Largo in motion so its explosive outbursts and lamenting allusions are set in relief by a finale that brings the whole work fatalistically full circle." (Richard Whitehouse)
"The Barshai arrangement has been used but Van Alphen's interpretation is nothing if not personal. He secures aggression without loss of articulation in the Allegro, dispatching the Allegretto with a kee irony, the keeping the Largo in motion so its explosive outbursts and lamenting allusions are set in relief by a finale that brings the whole work fatalistically full circle." (Richard Whitehouse)
"Die "Bochumer" und ihr kundiger Dirigent wussten alle Aspekte gültig und fesselnd zu vermitteln" https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/viersen/star-cellist-begeistert-in-der-festhalle_aid-20059691
"Montreal music lovers can boast of having witnessed one of the most brilliant feats of their symphony orchestra, which delivered a performance of rare elegance. The charismatic conductor Conrad Van Alphen breathed an impressive breath of fresh air into this truly symphonic marathon dedicated to the greatest masterpieces of the Russian repertoire." (Montreal Symphony Orchestra)
"Montreal music lovers can boast of having witnessed one of the most brilliant feats of their symphony orchestra, which delivered a performance of rare elegance. The charismatic conductor Conrad Van Alphen breathed an impressive breath of fresh air into this truly symphonic marathon dedicated to the greatest masterpieces of the Russian repertoire." (Montreal Symphony Orchestra)
discography
Sinfonia Rotterdam and Doelen Quartet on Cybele
Beethovenfest: Live Recording of Beethoven Symphony no. 5
Conrad records concertos with Bram van Sambeek
Celebrating the Shostakovich centenary in Russia
Holberg suite and Serenades on Telarc
Shostakovich Chamber Symphonies on Talent with the Rotterdam Chamber
Premiere recordings Ferdinand Hérold piano concerto's