Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) announced today the four-year appointment of Pablo Heras-Casado as Principal Conductor, effective immediately. At 34 years old Heras-Casado has already made a remarkable impact on the international conducting stage. His unique talents will help to shape OSL’s artistic course during a period of tremendous growth for the institution. This is Heras-Casado’s first titled appointment with a major international orchestra.
Maestro Heras-Casado, who hails from Granada, Spain, made his debut with OSL in the summer of 2011 at Caramoor International Music Festival, where the orchestra was founded in 1979. His first performance as OSL’s Principal Conductor will also be at Caramoor in July 2012. Heras-Casado is OSL’s fourth titled conductor, joining company with Roger Norrington (1990-1994), Charles Mackerras (1998-2001) and Donald Runnicles (2001-2007).
A consummate musician who has won praise for his energy and expertise across a broad range of musical styles, Heras-Casado has performed with many of the world’s finest orchestras, such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Dresden, Freiburger Barockorchester and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has developed relationships with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Mostly Mozart Festival. His opera collaborations include Teatro Real Madrid, La Monnaie in Brussels, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Canadian Opera Company and Opéra National de Bordeaux. Next summer, he will conduct at both the Salzburg and Lucerne Festivals.
Now in its 37th year, OSL is currently experiencing a period of expansion begun by its Co-Founder and President Emeritus Marianne Lockwood, which continues under the leadership of its second President and Executive Director Katy Clark. In March 2011 the orchestra moved into its first permanent home for rehearsal and recording—The DiMenna Center for Classical Music—which boasts state-of-the art acoustics and amenities for OSL’s musicians and for many other musicians in New York City. OSL performs approximately 70 concerts each year, including regular appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Morgan Library & Museum, Brooklyn Museum and its summer home, Caramoor International Music Festival.
“As we look towards a new era of creative growth, we are thrilled to have Pablo Heras-Casado as our Principal Conductor,” said Katy Clark. “Our musicians have a reputation for passionate music making as well as great versatility, and these are qualities they share with this astonishing conductor. Pablo’s fresh, artistic vision will be a great asset as we plan for the future.”
“The spirit of this orchestra is deeply inspiring, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work together on a regular basis,” said Pablo Heras-Casado. “I am excited to explore all the possibilities presented by St. Luke’s beautiful new home, and I look forward to becoming better acquainted with audiences in New York City through my work with this esteemed orchestra.”
“Pablo Heras-Casado represents the best of a new generation of conductors: he is knowledgeable, omnivorous, collaborative and charismatic,” said OSL Board Chairman Norman Benzaquen. “His involvement will further raise the profile of our wonderful orchestra.”
Heras-Casado will serve as OSL’s Principal Conductor from 2011 through 2015. He will lead OSL each year at Carnegie Hall and Caramoor International Music Festival. He will also help to select programs and soloists and will work closely with OSL to develop special projects such as tours, recordings and commissions.
About Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Now in its 37th year, Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) is one of America’s foremost and most versatile ensembles. OSL was formed at Caramoor International Music Festival in the summer of 1979, after evolving from St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, which was established at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1974. Dedicated to engaging audiences throughout New York City and beyond, OSL performs approximately 70 orchestral, chamber and educational concerts each year—including an annual orchestra series at Carnegie Hall, an annual chamber music series at The Morgan Library & Museum and Brooklyn Museum, a new series of free programs at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music entitled OSL@DMC and summer concerts as Orchestra-in-Residence at the Caramoor International Music Festival. OSL collaborates regularly with the world’s great artists, such as Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Anna Netrebko, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mark Morris Dance Group, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Elton John and many more.
