Artistic Director and Management
HUW RHYS JAMES
Artistic Director
Huw Rhys James was born in Great Britain and after gaining a BA in German and Politics at Bristol University, studied Piano and Composition at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik. After engagements at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna State Opera and the Linzer Landestheater he joined the staff of the Vienna Volksoper in 1994. At the Volksoper he has conducted amongst other works "My Fair Lady", "The Consul", "Don Pasquale" and "L'Elisir d'Amore". In 1999 he gave his conducting debut at the Wiener Konzerthaus. In 2002 he became Professor at the Vienna Conservatoire, where he directs the Youth Chamber Orchestra. At the 1997 Bayreuth Festival James was Assistent to Chorus Director Norbert Balatsch. Since 1997 he has been artistic director of the Wiener Tonkunstvereinigung, an ensemble dedicated to performing the church music of the Vienna classical and Romantic period. In the course of his activities as founder and artistic director of the VIENNA MUSIC WORKSHOP he has performed Philip Glass's "The Fall of the House of Usher", U. Zimmermann's "Weisse Rose", G. v. Einem's "Der Zerrissene" (Co-production with the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Volksoper) as well as Thomas Ades` Powder Her Face, and Handel`s “Orlando” and “Tamerlano” (first Austrian performances). In 2001 fe founded the baraoque orchestra Musica Poetica Vienna.
Artistic Director
Huw Rhys James was born in Great Britain and after gaining a BA in German and Politics at Bristol University, studied Piano and Composition at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik. After engagements at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna State Opera and the Linzer Landestheater he joined the staff of the Vienna Volksoper in 1994. At the Volksoper he has conducted amongst other works "My Fair Lady", "The Consul", "Don Pasquale" and "L'Elisir d'Amore". In 1999 he gave his conducting debut at the Wiener Konzerthaus. In 2002 he became Professor at the Vienna Conservatoire, where he directs the Youth Chamber Orchestra. At the 1997 Bayreuth Festival James was Assistent to Chorus Director Norbert Balatsch. Since 1997 he has been artistic director of the Wiener Tonkunstvereinigung, an ensemble dedicated to performing the church music of the Vienna classical and Romantic period. In the course of his activities as founder and artistic director of the VIENNA MUSIC WORKSHOP he has performed Philip Glass's "The Fall of the House of Usher", U. Zimmermann's "Weisse Rose", G. v. Einem's "Der Zerrissene" (Co-production with the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Volksoper) as well as Thomas Ades` Powder Her Face, and Handel`s “Orlando” and “Tamerlano” (first Austrian performances). In 2001 fe founded the baraoque orchestra Musica Poetica Vienna.
ANNA-MARIA BIRNBAUER
Management
Anna-Maria Birnbauer was born in Vienna, studied singing at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik and was a soloist at the Raimundtheater, Vienna.
Since 1991 she has been a member of the Vienna State Opera.
In 1995 together with Huw Rhys James she founded the Musikwerkstatt Wien.
Since 2002 she has been Production Manager for the Festival Mozart in Reinsberg.
For the Musikwerkstatt Wien she sang Poulenc's "La Voix Humaine" and Madeleine in "The Fall of the House of Usher".
She is an acomplished Lied and Oratorio singer and has performed both in Austria and abroad.
Management
Anna-Maria Birnbauer was born in Vienna, studied singing at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik and was a soloist at the Raimundtheater, Vienna.
Since 1991 she has been a member of the Vienna State Opera.
In 1995 together with Huw Rhys James she founded the Musikwerkstatt Wien.
Since 2002 she has been Production Manager for the Festival Mozart in Reinsberg.
For the Musikwerkstatt Wien she sang Poulenc's "La Voix Humaine" and Madeleine in "The Fall of the House of Usher".
She is an acomplished Lied and Oratorio singer and has performed both in Austria and abroad.
