Benjamin Shwartz appointed in Germany

Benjamin Shwartz has been appointed Chief Conductor of the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, joining the orchestra at the start of the 2022/23 season. The orchestra, whose roots go back to 1654, is based in Koblenz and serves as a cultural ambassador both locally and abroad.

Shwartz said: ‘From the moment I arrived in Koblenz and met the Staatsorchester Rheinsiche Philharmonie, I was impressed by the eagerness and drive of the orchestra. I sensed a real hunger for the high wire act of live performance. I am looking forward to working together with the orchestra to achieve the very finest music making, experimenting with new music, new concepts, and new interpretations of the standard concert experience.

Minister of Culture Katharina Binz said: ‘I am delighted that Benjamin Shwartz, an experienced international conductor with great dynamism, has accepted this position. His openness to contemporary music and new formats will give the orchestra new impulses and will revitalise our Rhineland-Palatinate musical culture. I wish Benjamin Shwartz every success in his work with the Rheinische Philharmonie.’

Los Angeles-born Shwartz is currently based in Berlin, and previously served as Music Director of the Orkiestra Symfoniczna NFM Wrocław and Principal Guest Conductor at Duisburg Philharmonic. As a guest conductor he has worked with orchestras such as the Royal Stockholm, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gulbenkian, BBC Scottish, Tokyo, Iceland and Aarhus Symphony Orchestras.