MARCUS
MERKEL

Conductor, Composer, Pianist

„... one of the most interesting young German conductors of the present day ...“

— MDR Klassik

Marcus Merkel was born in Berlin and has been the Chief Conductor at Theater Koblenz since the 2022/23 season. He also performs as a pianist and composer. Besides guest conducting in Antwerp, Dresden, Madrid, Munich, Kyoto (Japan), Berlin, and Amsterdam, he has worked with soloists such as Jonas Kaufmann, Elina Garanča, Erwin Schrott, and Kristine Opolais. Sir Bryn Terfel & Ludovic Tézier rely on him as a conductor for their concert evenings.

Since youth work and supporting young musicians are very important to him, he founded the "Junge Philharmonie Berlin" and the "Junge Konzerte Graz" and works with Jeunesse Austria.

In the 2024/25 season, he will make his debut at Teatro Real Madrid with a concert, at the Dresden Semperoper with a series of performances of Die Fledermaus, at the Berlin Philharmonie with a symphony concert of the Berlin Symphoniker, and with the RSO Wien for a CD production with the Austrian star baritone Rafael Fingerlos.

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Schedule

Marcus Merkel at Antwerp Symphony (c) Antwerp Symphony & Bjorn Comhaire
Fri
08
Aug

Eröffnung MDR Musiksommer – "Von Chemnitz in die Welt" | MDR Sinfonieorchester

Concert
20:00 – 22:30
Theaterplatz Chemnitz, Sachsen, DeutschlandMaps
The MDR Music Summer opens its 34th concert series in the European Capital of Culture 2025 in splendour. Together with the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra Chemnitz, the soprano Fatma Said and Omar Massa on the bandoneon, the MDR Symphony Orchestra will present a colourful programme characterised by South American sounds, in which the bandoneon, whose origins lie in 19th century Chemnitz, plays a representative role. Marcus Merkel, one of the most interesting young German conductors of the present day, has taken on the overall musical direction.

Fatma Said | Soprano
Omar Massa | bandoneon
Marcus Merkel | Conductor

MDR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra Chemnitz
mdr.de
Sun
17
Aug
Verdi

La Traviata – Kasematten Graz

Opera
Premiere
19:30 – 22:00
Production: Verdi: La Traviata
Kasematten Schloßberg 6, 8010 Graz, ÖsterreichMaps
Passion, longing, despair, anger, reconciliation. LA TRAVIATA by GIUSEPPE VERDI is more than just an opera. It is an emotional, musical and dramatic masterpiece. A story about the challenges of life, the power of love and the fragility of human existence that is deeply moving, especially today.

Violetta Valéry: NICOLE CHEVALIER
Alfredo Germont: JOSEPH CALLEJA
Giorgio Germont: THOMAS HAMPSON

In other roles we are proud to present:
Flora: Neira Muhić
Annina: Marija Ticl
Marchese: Ivan Oreščanin
Dottore Grenvil: Daeho Kim
Gastone & Guiseppe: Christian Scherler
Barone Duphol & Servant (commissario): Sangyeon Chae

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Scenic design: Elisabeth Thym
Set design: Isabel Toccafondi
spielstaetten.buehnen-graz.com
Tue
19
Aug
Verdi

La Traviata – Kasematten Graz

Opera
2nd performance
19:30 – 22:00
Production: Verdi: La Traviata
Kasematten Schloßberg 6, 8010 Graz, ÖsterreichMaps
Passion, longing, despair, anger, reconciliation. LA TRAVIATA by GIUSEPPE VERDI is more than just an opera. It is an emotional, musical and dramatic masterpiece. A story about the challenges of life, the power of love and the fragility of human existence that is deeply moving, especially today.

Violetta Valéry: NICOLE CHEVALIER
Alfredo Germont: JOSEPH CALLEJA
Giorgio Germont: THOMAS HAMPSON

In other roles we are proud to present:
Flora: Neira Muhić
Annina: Marija Ticl
Marchese: Ivan Oreščanin
Dottore Grenvil: Daeho Kim
Gastone & Guiseppe: Christian Scherler
Barone Duphol & Servant (commissario): Sangyeon Chae

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Scenic design: Elisabeth Thym
Set design: Isabel Toccafondi
spielstaetten.buehnen-graz.com
Fri
26
Sep

Season Opening Gala with Javier Camarena | Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Concert
20:15 – 22:45
Koningin Elisabethzaal Koningin Astridplein 20-23, 2018 Antwerpen, BelgienMaps
Pieces by Donizetti, Rossini, Verdi, Gounod and others

The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra opens the concert season in grand style with an evening of brilliance and operatic splendour. This year, the spotlight falls on Javier Camarena, the world-renowned Mexican tenor and Male Singer of the Year at the International Opera Awards. Known as the king of bel canto, Camarena enchants with arias by Donizetti, Rossini, Verdi, and Gounod, showcasing his unmatched vocal artistry and charisma. The orchestra complements his performance with dazzling overtures and intermezzi, delivering their signature elegance and flair. An unforgettable night of operatic magic, glamour, and musical fireworks awaits!

Javier Camarena, Tenor
Marcus Merkel, Conductor
Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
antwerpsymphonyorchestra.be
Sun
28
Sep

Gala with Jinxu Xiahou | Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in Amsterdam

Concert
11:00 – 13:30
Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) Concertgebouwplein 10, 1071 LN Amsterdam, NiederlandeMaps
With his warm timbre and impressive technique, Jinxu Xiahou has already enchanted audiences all over the world. Now he is on stage at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, together with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Together, they will perform a selection of arias from works by Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi, among others. The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra complements these vocal delights with sparkling overtures and intermezzi, and assists the soloist with unparalleled class.

Jinxu Xiahou, Tenor
Marcus Merkel, Conductor
Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
antwerpsymphonyorchestra.be
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Reviews

„Voces del Real: Ludovic Tézier“

„... The discovery of the evening, however, was the conductor, a young artist who is able to switch between the academicism of a David, the Offenbachian splendour, the biblical and oriental cancan of a Don Camille, the decadent exaltation of a Massenet and the monumentality of a Wagner.“ — Blas Matamoro, scherzo

„La clemenza di Tito“

„... The Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, under the direction of Marcus Merkel, performs in the orchestra pit of the Rokokotheater with a wide-awake presence and delivers a lively and crisp sound that does Mozart credit. ...“ — Uwe Rauschelbach, Schwetzinger Zeitung

„Carmen“

„...Conductor Marcus Merkel challenges the orchestra made up of members of the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra to brilliant performances, builds up a broad dynamic spectrum and awakens the Andalusian flair in the audience's imagination with Bizet's sparkling rhythms....“ — Paul Stepanek, Oberösterreichische Nachrichten

„Così fan tutte“

„...The sparks also fly in the orchestra pit, Marcus Merkel draws a lively Mozart sound from the Rheinische Philharmonie....“ — Florian Oberhummer, Salzburger Nachrichten

„Die Zauberflöte“

„...Conductor Marcus Merkel [...] puts himself entirely at the service of the music and supports the singers. He ensures balance and vivid, natural phrasing. The orchestra plays wonderfully light-footed.“ — Jenny Camilleri, De Volkskrant

More reviews
Tosca Preview - Jonas Kaufmann & Marcus Merkel

Repertoire

Marcus Merkel's repertoire includes 54 works of stage literature - in 69 productions to date.

View entire repertoire
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