MARCUS
MERKEL

Conductor, Composer, Pianist

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

— MDR Klassik

Marcus Merkel is a young German conductor and has been Chief Conductor at Theater Koblenz since the 2022/23 season. Guest engagements take him to the Semperoper Dresden, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, the Teatro Real Madrid and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. He regularly works with soloists including Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Sir Bryn Terfel, Ludovic Tézier and Kristīne Opolais. He also performs as a pianist and composer.

In the 2025/26 season, he makes his debut at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, with the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz with symphony concerts, returns to the Semperoper Dresden with a performance series of Die Fledermaus, and records a CD with the RSO Vienna featuring Austrian baritone Rafael Fingerlos.

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

View full biography

Schedule

Marcus Merkel at Antwerp Symphony (c) Antwerp Symphony & Bjorn Comhaire
Sun
07
Jun

Eröffnungskonzert des Millstatt Festival 2026 | Millstatt Festival Orchester

Concert
17:00 – 19:30
Stiftskirche Millstatt Stiftgasse 1, 9872 Millstatt am See, ÖsterreichMaps
Mozart: Overture to *La clemenza di Tito*, K. 621
Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 421
Haydn: Symphony No. 49 in F minor, *La passione*
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551

The 2026 opening concert is entitled “Classical Treasures”. The Millstatt Festival Orchestra will perform under the baton of Marcus Merkel, presenting an impressive programme. The horn player Daniel Loipold will be the soloist. A concert evening not to be missed!

Millstatt Festival Orchestra
Daniel Loipold: Horn
Marcus Merkel: Conductor
Fri
19
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
Premiere
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
Sun
21
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
2nd performance
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
Tue
23
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
3rd performance
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
Thu
25
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
4th performance
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
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Reviews

„AK Classics“

„Marcus Merkel has [...] worked with great precision, brought many details to the fore, skilfully balanced tonal nuances, and brought to light a rich universe of sounds, colours and, consequently, images. ...“ — Michael Wruss, Oberösterreichische Nachrichten

„Von Chemnitz in die Welt“

„... What he does with his hands is all the more precise, with a focus on marvellous details, when he makes the brass sparkle and the woodwinds glitter lasciviously. But also capable of controlled ecstasy ...“ — Werner Kopfmüller, Leipziger Volkszeitung

„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

More reviews
Tosca Preview - Jonas Kaufmann & Marcus Merkel

Repertoire

Marcus Merkel's opera repertoire includes 55 works of stage literature - in 77 productions to date.

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