Ethan Schmeisser
Ethan Schmeisser nasce in Israele, si laurea con lode in direzione d’orchestra presso il Tel Aviv Music Academy e ha completato la sua seconda laurea sotto la guida del compianto direttore Mendi Rodan.
Schmeisser ha un’ampia conoscenza ed esperienza nel repertorio operistico avendo debuttato molti titoli d’opera importanti presso l’Israeli Opera di TelAviv dove egli è direttore di orchestra e Maestro del coro.
E’ il direttore musicale, direttore e pianista per molti programmi della Israeli Opera Tel Aviv. In questa Compagnia ha diretto gia piu di 18 titoli diversi di opere e molti concerti. Fra i titoli vi sono: “Der Zauberfloete”, “Un Ballo in Maschera”, “La Rondine”, “L’elisir d’amore”, “Lucia di Lamermoore”, “Les Pecheurs des Perles”, “Faust”, “The Turn of the Screw”, “Giulio Cesare in Egitto”, “La Cenerentola”, “Rigoletto” e altri.
Nel 2017 ha inoltre diretto anche il concerto di gala di “MUSICFEST PERUGIA” a Perugia con l’orchestra di “Virtuosi Brunesi”. In questa stagione debutterà in un nuova produzione di “Cosi Fan Tutte” di Mozart per Haifa Symphony Orchestra, dirigerà anche nuove produzioni di “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Britten) and “Dido e Aeneas” (Purcell).
Schmeisser ha ricevuto borse di studio AICF e ha partecipato come direttore assistente al Bel Canto Festival in Olanda nel 2003. Ha diretto Israel Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Orchestra Jerusalem, Barrocade Ensemble, Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra IBA e altre orchestre in Israele.
Sotto la sua direzione nelle ultime cinque stagioni il Coro dell’Opera di Israele ha ottenuto il plauso della critica internazionale.
Ha suonato come clavicembalista e pianista per produzioni e concerti della Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, Israel Chamber Orchestra e altri. Come clavicembalista ha suonato i recitativi nel Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) con l’Israel Philharmonic Orchestra sotto la direzione di Roberto Abbado.
Ha collaborato come pianista con maestri quali Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Gary Bertini, Daniel Oren e altri. Ha fondato l’Ensemble Bononcini e l’Ensemble Venezia di voci femminili con le quali si è esibito in numerosi concerti.
Presso l’Israeli Opera ha diretto le prime mondiali di “Lezioni di volo” (Ella Milch Sheriff) in una produzione congiunta con Cameri Theatre Tel Aviv, “La Signora e il Venditore ambulante” di Haim Permont e “Schitz” di Yoni Rechter.
Schmeisser ha diretto anche in Produzioni di balletto come “Madama Butterfly”, opera di Puccini arrangiata da John Longstaff per la Società Balletto di Israele con la coreografia di Marianna Ryzhkina (Bolshoi Ballet) e “Man of the Hour” di Itzik Galili con musiche di Haendel, Porpora e Purcell, ha inoltre ideato e condotto la produzione famiglia itinerante di Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), che ha organizzato per pianoforte e quintetto di fiati.
Ethan Schmeisser
Conductor, Pianist and Vocal Coach
Ethan Schmeisser was born in Israel. He graduated cum laude from the conducting program at the Tel Aviv Music Academy and completed his second degree under the guidance of the late Mendi Rodan.
Mr. Schmeisser has the most extensive knowledge and experience in opera after fulfilling a variety of positions at the Israeli Opera Tel Aviv. He is the Head of Music and the Chorus Master and acting conductor in residence of the Israeli Opera. He is the music director, conductor and pianist for many Israeli Opera programs. He has received the AICF scholarships and participated as an assisitant conductor in Bel Canto Festival in Holland 2003. He has conducted the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, the Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra IBA and other orchestras and ensembles in Israel. Under his direction in the last five seasons the Israeli Opera choir has achieved international critical acclaim.
He has played as a harpsichordist and pianist for productions of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, the New Israeli Vocal Ensemble, the Ramat Gan Chamber Choir and others. As a harpsichordist has played the recitatives in Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Roberto Abbado and Cosi fan tutte (Mozart) with the Israel Camerata Jerusalem and in productions with conductors such as Yoel Levi, Pietro Rizzo and David Stern. He has collaborated as pianist with maestri such as Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Gary Bertini, Daniel Oren and others. He has founded the Bononcini Ensemble and Venice female voice ensemble with whom he performed in many concerts. At the Israeli Opera he conducted the world premieres of Flying Lessons (Ella Milch Sheriff) in a joint production with Cameri Theatre, “Lady and the Peddler” by Haim Permont and “Schitz” by Yoni Rechter. He Premiered also Ballet and dance works as “Madama Butterfly” after Puccini’s opera arranged by John Longstaff for the Israeli Ballet Company with choreography by Marianna Ryzhkina (Bolshoi Ballet) and Itzik Galili’s “Man of the Hour” with music by Haendel, Bononcini and Purcell. He has devised and conducted the family touring production of Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) which he arranged for piano and wind quintet.
Faust (2017)
Lucia Di Lammeromoor (2017)
Les pêcheurs de perles (2016)
La Cenerentola (2016)
La Rondine (2015)
The Lady and the Peddler / Schitz (2015)
L’elisir d’amore (2015)
Les Contes d’Hoffmann (2014)
Rigoletto (2014)
Mozart Requiem (2014)
Un ballo in maschera (2014)
The Turn of the Screw (2013)
Die Zauberflöte community production (2013-2016)
Orfeo ed Euridice (2012)
Aufsteig und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (2012)
La Cenerentola Community Production (2011,2012)
Die Zauberflöte (2011)
and with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra IBA:
Hansel und Gretel (2011)
Don Giovanni (2015)
Further engagements include:
Haendel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto – Israeli opera Festival (with Jerusalem Camerata Orchestra). Stage dir: Tomer Zvulun (Atlanta Opera) – 3,5/8/2017
Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte – Haifa Symphony Orchestra. Stage director: Shirit Lee-Weiss – 29, 30/10/2017
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas – Israeli Opera (production of Cecile Roussat and Julien Lubeck) – Maggio 2018
Concert in “Musicfest Perugia” on 15.8.2017
“The opera orchestra, conducted by Ethan Schmeisser, was powerful and highly expressive… Conductor Ethan Schmeisser led the fine opera orchestra with full control.” (Opera News) http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2015/10/Reviews/TEL_AVIV__The_Lady_and_the_Peddler,_Schitz.html
“Ethan Schmeisser…led the production with a firm yet flexible hand and produced a wonderful sound from the orchestra, choir and soloists” (Omer Shomrony, “Globes”)
http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001000460
“The conductor, Ethan Schmeisser…He moved the entire evening intensively, with a very firm hand, through keeping all dynamic continuum. The Israeli Symphony Orchestra Rishon Lezion was responsive in an almost sensual manner” (Yon Feder, ynet)
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4676011,00.html
“Soprano Michal Shamir and pianist Ethan Schmeisser Hypnotised with a bleak performance of the opera” (Noam Ben Zeev, “Haaretz” 27.3.2007 on “La Voix Humain” by F. Poulenc) http://news.walla.co.il/item/1082933
“The Great Music of Puccini, by the excellent arrangement of John Longstaff, played very lively by Israeli Symphony Orchestra Rishon Lezion under the baton of Ethan Schmeisser who well connected the music and the dance” (Zvi Goren “Habama” on “Madame Butterfly” Ballet) http://www.habama.co.il/Pages/Description.aspx?Subj=2&Area=1&ArticleId=23093
“The high points of the first part were in my opinion the Choral works, performed with great charm by the “Venice” Vocal Ensemble and conducted/accompanied by Ethan Schmeisser. The all-women choir sang as one and maintained a good balance. Ethan Schmeisser played with great passion and was very charismatic. They were later joined by Ayala Zimbler, the evening’s wonderful mezzo-soprano, for the Serenade “Zoegernd Liese”.” (Midnighteast blog)
http://www.midnighteast.com/mag/?p=3149
“Het door Ethan Schmeisser ingestudeerde koor was muzikaal en theatraal in topvorm. Dat kwam vooral de vechtscènes (gechoreografeerd door Roberto Venturi) ten goede.” (operamagazine.nl) http://www.operamagazine.nl/featured/36598/roerende-romeo-et-juliette-bij-israeli-opera/
“Positiva anche la prova del coro ben preparato da Ethan Schmeisser del quale siamo riusciti ad apprezzare la buona qualità” (operaclick)
http://www.operaclick.com/speciali/colori-profumi-e-opera-lirica-israele
“le chœur de l’opéra de Tel Aviv impressionne de bout en bout. Redoutablement précis et homogène, il parvient à donner l’illusion d’être un seul personnage, comme dans la tragédie grecque. Un personnage qui rôde tel un tigre autour de Rigoletto et de Gilda. La vivacité musicale fait écho à la méchanceté foncière de ces courtisans, toujours prêts à humilier, blesser, voire tuer. Les notes piquent comme des dards dans « Zitti, zitti, moviamo vendetta ». Le public ne s’y trompe pas, et réserve un triomphe aux choristes.” (forumopera)
http://www.forumopera.com/rigoletto-jerusalem-en-garde-courtisans
“Les chœurs sont en revanche irréprochables, et tiennent leur partie avec un professionnalisme que rien ne peut troubler, même lorsque la fosse tangue un peu. Et quand instrumentistes et chanteurs communient dans l’excellence, le résultat est bouleversant, comme dans le chœur des meurtriers à l’acte II” (forumopera)
http://www.forumopera.com/macbeth-tel-aviv-verdi-sang-et-noir
“The Israeli Opera Chorus was a major hero of this performance – highly impressive, perfectly synchronized, sonorous and rich in nuances of dynamics.” (Jerusalem Post)
“Ethan Schmeisser did a wonderful job with the large chorus, especially with the men.. Oren built a wonderful “Va pensiero” chorus, with long, emotional soaring lines. As expected, the standing ovation led to an encore.” (Opera News) http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2015/7/Reviews/TEL_AVIV__Nabucco.html
“The choir, under the direction of chorus master Ethan Schmeisser, was in fine form. Some of the show’s finest moments were when the chorus sang offstage, resulting in moving, ethereal sound.” (ynetnews)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4748238,00.html
“L’excellence de l’Israeli Opera Chorus augmenté des jeunes voix du Young Efroni Choir témoigne de la bonne santé de la maison” (forumopera)
http://www.forumopera.com/spectacle/david-face-a-un-goliath-du-repertoire
