Karl-Heinz Steffens

The German conductor Karl-Heinz Steffens is recognised as a conductor of great distinction in both operatic and symphonic worlds. Recent seasons have seen him work with ensembles such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic and Zurich Tonhalle Orchestras. He has worked frequently with the Radio Symphony Orchestras of Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Leipzig, and this season he continues his Brahms cycle with the Philharmonia. and returns to the Dresden and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestras. He also conducts the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln and the Orchestre National de Lyon, and makes his debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Under his leadership as Music Director of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, the orchestra has been honoured with many accolades; they received the ECHO award for Best Orchestra in 2015, and in 2016/17 they were nominated prizewinners of the Best Concert Programme of the Season by the Deutsche Musikverlegerverband.

Equally at home in the opera house, Steffens recently gave the Norwegian premiere of Pelléas and Mélisande at the Norwegian National Opera where he has also conducted productions of Cosi fan Tutte, Fidelio and Calixto Bieito’s Tosca. He has also appeared at the Teatro alla Scala, Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, and Zürich Opera.           

Prior to his conducting career, Steffens was a highly respected solo clarinettist holding Principal Clarinet posts with the Bavarian Radio and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras.