Antonio Méndez

“It is not difficult to guess that the Spanish conductor Antonio Méndez will have a remarkable career…”
(Rhein-Main-Zeitung)

Spanish conductor Antonio Méndez has established himself as one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation, forging strong relationships with many of Europe’s leading orchestras. Over the last few years, he has enjoyed notable success with ensembles including Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Wiener Symphoniker and Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg.

During the 2026/27 season, highlights include returns to conduct the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España and Orquesta Sinfónica RTVE, as well as appearances with Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Athens State Orchestra and Enescu Philharmonic. In the previous season, Méndez conducted The Turn of the Screw at Den Norske Opera, following his successful debut with this title at La Monnaie / De Munt in 2024, with the prestigious stage director Andrea Breth. Other previous engagements include conducting the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Korean National Symphony Orchestra featuring soloist Leticia Moreno, Euskadi Symphony Orchestra, and Göttinger Symphonieorchester.

Recent successes include acclaimed debuts with Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Staatskapelle Dresden, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, BBC Philharmonic, Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Russian National Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, as well as a tour of the Canary Islands with Orchestre de Chambre de Paris.

An active opera conductor, Méndez had great success at La Monnaie / De Munt and Den Norske Opera with The Turn of the Screw, and has also conducted 7 Deaths of Maria Callas – a show that combines opera, live arts, performance art and video creation – at Gran Teatre del Liceu, Ariadne auf Naxos at the Canary Islands Music Festival, Madama Butterfly at the Palma de Mallorca Opera House and L’elisir d’amore at the Tenerife Opera House.

Antonio Méndez held the post of Principal Conductor of Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife from the 2018/19 to 2020/21 season.

His recording with Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR on SWR Music (for Berlin Classics) was awarded an Echo Klassik Award. He has also recorded with Scottish Chamber Orchestra for Linn Records.

Méndez attracted international attention as a prize winner at the prestigious 2012 Malko Competition in Copenhagen, and later as a finalist at the 2013 Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award.

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Antonio Méndez: Rachmaninov- Symphony No.2 | Staatskapelle Weimar Concert held in Hall 1 of Pau Casals de L’Auditori de Barcelona for the Ciclo Orquestas Internacionales – 13/11/2017 © Ibercamera

Antonio Méndez: Tchaikovsky- Seoul Philharmonic

Méndez, with the BBCSO were at their best, impressed in the first two of Respighi’s Roman trilogy of symphonic poems, Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome. These lavishly scored works are unique in succeeding almost exclusively by means of their picturesque colour. The orchestration is dazzling, both in the quiet and grand dramatic moments. Méndez let the music speak for itself, never pushing the tempi or exaggerating the climaxes. The poetic elements of the Fountains, with its echoes of Richard Strauss and Debussy, were beautifully crafted.

Bachtrack, December 2024

“Méndez’s interpretation was round, but at the same time well organised, with an extremely generous Orquestra Nacional in the tutti and orchestral climaxes.”

(Codalario)

“Right from the beginning he underlined the vehement tutti sounds and the swirling string passages, but on the other side shaped softly and sensitively the vocal parts.”

(Unser-luebeck)

“Méndez, a most animated conductor, drew a reading that blended supercharged thrills in the more bombastic, quasi-military episodes with their tumultuous brass fanfares with brooding introspection in the darker overtones of the opening movement and exquisite, romantic lyricism in the lovely Adagio third movement.”

(Seen and Heard)

“Antonio Méndez conducted Ravel’s two Suites, carefully crafting the colour nuances, balancing instruments in order to create this volatile atmosphere, but without giving into the temptation of focusing only on sound and neglecting the rhythm that is specific to this piece, originally conceived as a ballet.”

(bachtrack)