Claude Villaret
Principal Guest Conductor
“Claude Villaret’s baton leading the Berliner Symphoniker caused the euphoria of thousands spectators … Because of the magic he created between music and public, Claude Villaret, was the unquestionable protagonist of the IIIrd edition of the International Festival of Ushuaia.”
Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Claude Villaret studied piano and conducting. He was then invited by the celebrated conductor, Bernard Haitink to follow his work at the Euyo and the Berliner Philharmoniker. In 1990 whilst living in Argentina, he founded the Youth Orchestra of Latin America and conducted them at the famous Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. On returning to Europe, in 1994 he won the much prized conducting competition of the music academy in Biel, following which he was invited to be guest conductor of the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic. His career as a conductor has since taken him to leading music centres such as Berlin, Milan, Zurich, Salzburg, Buenos Aires, London, Prague, Athen, Vienna, Lucerne and Geneva in famous concert halls like Buenos Aires Teatro Colon, Tonhalle Zürich, Megaron Athen, KKL Lucern, Smetana Hall Prague, Sala Sao Paolo in Sao Paolo and other international venues with orchestras such as:
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London (England)
- Berliner Symphoniker (Germany)
- HDK Symphony Orchestra (Berlin)
- Symphony Orchestra Zurich (Switzerland)
- Musikkollegium Winterthur (Switzerland)
- TKO- Chamber Orchestra Thurgau (Switzerland)
- The New Orchestra of Geneva (Switzerland)
- OSI Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (Switzerland)
- Nara Philharmonic (Japan)
- Wien Residenz Orchester (Vienna)
- Sinfônica Nacional (Brasil)
- Orquesta Sinfônica da USP (Sao Paolo)
- Plovdiv State Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria)
- North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic)
- Camerata Bohemica Prague (Czech Republic)
- Dvorak Prague Symphony Orchestra (Czech Republic)
- South Bohemian Chamber Orchestra (Czech Republic)
- Orchestra Sinfonica di Grosseto (Italy)
- Chamber Orchestra of Tübingen (Germany)
- State Philharmonic Orchestra of Arad (Romania)
- State Philharmonic Orchestra of Sibiu (Romania)
- State Phiharmonic Orchestra of Bacau (Romania)
- State Philharmonic Orchestra of Brasov (Romania)
- Chamber Orchestra of Kiev (Ukraine)
- Orquesta Sinfónica Uncuyo (Argentina)
- Orquesta Sinfónica de Bahia Blanca (Argentina)
- Orquesta Sinfónica de la UNT (Argentina)
- Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas (Cuba)
- Sudecka Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland)
- Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland)
- Athen State Symphony Orchestra (Greece)
- Antalya State Symphony Orchestra (Turkey)
- Astana National State Orchestra (Kazakhstan)
He has maintained his interests in South America, between 1998 and 2006 he was principal guest conductor of the OrquestraSinfonica Nacional (Brazil), during the seaons 2002 – 2004 permanent guest conductor of the Orquesta Sinfonica UNT de Tucuman(Argentina). In 2004 he was appointed chief conductor/artistic director of the TKO Chamber Orchestra Thurgau (Switzerland),in 2005 he was also appointed a principal guest conductor of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. His success has led to invitations to give conducting masterclasses in Germany and South America and also to be guest conductor at several music festivals.
His recent conducting repertoire includes the operas, La Boheme, Cosi fan tutte, Don Giovanni, Il Trovatore. In addition heenjoys being innovative in conducting many first performancesof both Swiss and foreign composers. He also realized projectscombining video installations with contemporary music.
2012 will see the release of a Cd with the Royal PhilharmonicOrchestra London and a second one with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana.
