Watch the acceptance speech (in German):
This has to be one of the proudest moments of my life. I never thought that I would be honoured in this way, and looking through the list of previous prize winners makes me feel very humble indeed.
As a schoolboy music was always part of my life: there was music in the home and family musical gatherings were commonplace. I was also a cathedral chorister at Worcester Cathedral which gave me the best possible introduction to professional musical life – although I didn’t really appreciate it at the time. I was much more interested in kicking or throwing a ball around. I certainly didn’t envisage a life in music at that age and it wasn’t until after my degree from Durham University and my studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London that I decided to try and make my way as a performing artist.
My path to conducting was not one of choice but I suppose more of destiny. Until I was in my mid thirties it was not a career that I considered seriously. I was a chamber musician by training and inclination. The turning point came when I ‘jumped’ in to conduct a series of performances of “Le nozze di Figaro” at the Paris Opera – in a cast containing Renee Fleming, Caecilia Bartoli, Feruccio Furlanetto, Jane Berbier etc. etc.. – and that was that. I had had very little previous experience of conducting a full symphony orchestra and had certainly never taken a conducting lesson.
Music is a passion for me and I count myself incredibly fortunate to be able to earn a living doing something that is not a ‘job’. Sometimes perhaps in the music industry – as we like to call it – we don’t realize just how lucky we are. I consider myself above all incredibly very fortunate to have been associated with the cultural life of Duisburg and the Duisburger Philharmoniker for a decade or more. That is a great honour in itself.
Thoughout my time here in Duisburg I’ve had immense support from musical colleagues, Stadt Duisburg personnel, the wonderful Förderverein to whom I would like to extend a special word of thanks, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and of course all members of the Duisburger Philharmoniker and the Verwaltung, past and present. They are too many to number but none of them is forgotten! I have also made great and lasting friendships, for which I will be eternally grateful.
A special thanks goes to one or two key people in my professional career. First and foremost to Prof. Tobias Richter for inviting me to become a member of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein musical team all those years ago and without whom I wouldn’t be here today. Then to Dominique Meyer, the Director of the Vienna State Opera who gave me many productions to conduct both in Lausanne and Paris at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées at the beginning of my conducting career letting me get some conducting ‘baggage’ together: – essential for inexperienced conductors. To Rolf Arnold for entrusting me with the fate of the Duisburger Philharmoniker back in 2002 and his wife, both of whom have graciously given me undying support over the years. And to Rolf Arnold’s successor, Dr. Alfred Wendel, for the fruitful and genial teamwork during my last years as GMD of the Duisburger Philharmoniker.
Last, but certainly not least, to my parents who sadly are not here today but who made so many sacrifices to give my brother and me a good education. And of course to my wife and family. I can say with total sincerity that without their understanding and patience, I wouldn’t have had the courage and strength to carry on in this profession which, despite its obvious rewards, can be very hard on those one loves.
Thankyou Stadt Duisburg, thankyou the musicians of the Duisburger Philharmoniker, thankyou the Köhler-Osbar Stiftung. Thankyou one and all.
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