Christian Blex is the new Assistant Conductor of the GUSTAV MAHLER JUGENDORCHESTER
(Vienna, 10.05.2023) German conductor Christian Blex (*1993) is the new Assistant Conductor of the GUSTAV MAHLER JUGENDORCHESTER. He takes over from Austrian conductor Tobias Wögerer, who held this position from 2019 – 2022, and is now Kapellmeister at Volksoper Wien.
A student of Ole Christian Ruud at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Christian Blex is a fellow of the Norwegian Dirigentløftet since 2020 and the German Forum Dirigieren since 2021. In September 2022, he was appointed assistant to Kirill Petrenko at the Karajan-Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic.
His first project with the GMJO is the Spring Tour 2023 with Daniele Gatti, followed by a special project at the Rencontres Musicales d’Evian with Daniel Harding. As part of the Summer Tour 2023 with Jakub Hrůša, Christian Blex will conduct concerts of the GUSTAV MAHLER JUGENDORCHESTER in Pordenone / Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia and in Bolzano / Bozen.
Alexander Meraviglia-Crivelli, Artistic and Executive Director of the GMJO:
I am very happy to welcome Christian Blex in his new position at the GMJO, in which he follows prominent predecessors like Franz Welser-Möst, Manfred Honeck, David Afkham, or Lorenzo Viotti. I first saw Chris during masterclasses in Oslo at the Dirigentløftet of Talent Norge, and I was immediately impressed. Kirill Petrenko and the Karajan-Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic are working very successfully with Chris since 2022, and the GMJO is looking forward to working with him.
Christian Blex, Assistant Conductor of the GMJO:
It’s a tremendous honour, privilege, and joy to get to make music with the wonderful musicians of the GMJO. Being able to work alongside and with such talented and passionate colleagues is nothing but the greatest gift.
Chris Blex © Talent Norge / Ole Wuttudal
