Born in London, the tenor Mark Padmore is an internationally sought-after opera, concert and recital singer, who performs regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and first-class musicians. In recent years, Padmore’s performances during his residency with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Simon Rattle have attracted particular attention as a »charismatic evangelist« (Berliner Morgenpost) in the rousing production of Peter Sellars‘ St Matthew and St John Passion. Previously, Padmore was also Artist in Residence with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. In the 2021/22 season, he held the same position at London’s Wigmore Hall.

Alongside his celebrated and highly impressive performances, for example at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in Benjamin Britten’s opera ›Death in Venice‹ and in other leading roles including at the Aldeburgh and Glyndebourne Festivals, Padmore has a very extensive discography which includes Beethoven’s ›Missa Solemnis‹ and  Haydn’s ›The Creation‹ with Bernard Haitink and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, songs by Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart with Kristian Bezuidenhout, Schubert cycles with Paul Lewis and a recording of Benjamin Britten’s Serenade which has won many awards including the Echo Klassik. One of this season’s highlights is Mark Padmore’s debut with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen.

In recent years, Duncan Ward has established himself as one of the most exciting and versatile conductors of his generation, whose lively interpretations of the classical repertoire are praised as much as his interpretations of 20th century masterpieces. He has been chief conductor of the Philzuid (South Netherlands Philharmonic) since 2021. He also regularly conducts orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, the Finnish Radio Symphony and other renowned orchestras. His great passion for a very wide-ranging repertoire also leads to collaborations with ensembles for historical instruments such as Les Siècles or Balthasar Neumann as well as with specialists for contemporary music such as the Ensemble Modern or the Ensemble Intercontemporain.

The current season’s symphonic highlights include debuts with the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Osaka Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique du Quebec and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. In 2022, the conductor made his North American debut at the Metropolitan Opera with Mozart’s ›Die Zauberflöte‹. Duncan Ward opened the 2024/25 season with a critically acclaimed debut at the English National Opera and a new production of Britten’s ›Turn of the Screw‹. Since his youth, this versatile musician has been involved in many international social projects, including in India and South Africa. He has maintained a close relationship with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen for many years.