Christoph Altstaedt

“Everyone in the concert hall agreed it was a special evening for the Tiroler Symphonie-Orchester under the baton of its new Chief Conductor Christoph Altstaedt. It has been a long time since we have heard such an inspiring conducting of a Mozart opera here, as well as such a fiery orchestra play, savouring every beauty of the score. The 31 year-old Heidelberg native, who already attracted attention in his first concert with this orchestra, was able to capture the musicians’ full energy from the first to the last note and breathed such life into the many recitatives in the complete score (apart from the short Idamante aria before the sacrifice scene) to make the audience aware of the genius of this still underappreciated Mozart opera… Altstaedt’s debut as an opera conductor in Innsbruck was outright brilliant.” (Neue Merker, November 2011)

“Altstaedt’s talent for great arcs of suspense and dynamic progressions were exhibited in the “Prelude” and “Liebestod” from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. He incited the Innsbruck orchestra to an impressive performance of the composition” (Krone, October 2011)

“[In the “Prelude” and “Liebestod” of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde] Altstaedt’s passionate approach to music and his highly talented dedication were revealed, the rich rewards of which suggest an intensive preparation. Altstaedt paid special attention to the strings that achieved a new quality here. But he takes every group quasi by the hand without restricting the musicians. Impressive was the dynamic dramaturgy, the emphasis and restraint, the increasing intensity through endless lines and agogical subtleties, the elaboration of harmonic changes for added suspense, the tonally rich, seductive, yet never viscous result.” (Tiroler Tageszeitung, October 2011)