Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), is one of the most talented German conductors of his generation. His dynamic performances have won praise from the international press: ‘[the] performance’s sophistication and sensuality comes from the pit’ (LA Times, 2007); ‘the orchestra sparkles and glows under the heated conducting of Sebastian Lang-Lessing. Viva Carmen!’ (Houston Press, 2006); ‘it was Lang-Lessing, in his company debut, who steered Tuesday’s opening to its greatest moments of success’ (San Francisco Times, 2005).
His career began at a young age with engagements at leading opera houses in Europe and United States, including the Opéra Bastille in Paris, the Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Oslo Opera, Stockholm Opera and Hamburg State Opera. Recently he gave his Italian debut with “Falstaff”; Ruggiero Raimondi was singing the title role.
Sebastian Lang-Lessing studied conducting at Hamburg State Conservatory. After being awarded the Ferenc Fricsay Prize, he worked as assistant conductor at the Hamburg State Opera and later as permanent conductor at Rostock Opera. At the invitation of renowned director Götz Friedrich, he was Conductor-in-Residence at the Deutsche Oper Berlin for eight years. From 1999 to 2006 he was music director and chief conductor of the Opéra de Nancy in France, where he also led a full symphonic concert season. Under his direction, the Opéra de Nancy was promoted to national status becoming the Opéra national de Lorraine.
In 2005 the young Maestro inaugurated the TSO’s annual Sydney season and led his orchestra on a tour to Japan. He released numerous CDs on ABC Classics. A recording of the complete symphonies of Mendelssohn is nearing completion. His discography includes the complete symphonies of Schumann, music by Saint-Saëns, D’Indy, Franck, Ravel, Bruch, Brett Dean and other Australian composers, a CD with Mozart Arias and a recording of Romantic Overtures. Sebastian Lang-Lessing’s rediscovery of the music of French composer Joseph-Guy Ropartz and CD releases of his symphonies with Radio France have been greeted enthusiastically by the press. The TSO is planning a tour to Europe in 2010.
Among Lang-Lessing’s guest appearances have been engagements with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre de Toulouse, Orchestre de Bordeaux, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon and major orchestras in Australia. He has also appeared at outdoor events including a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with choreographer Maurice Béjart at Bercy in Paris.
In August 2008 he conducted Porgy and Bess, the first production on stage in the new opera house in Oslo.
