Johannes Debus

Johannes Debus

Johannes Debus has been Music Director of the Canadian Opera Company since 2009. Recent seasons included productions of Rusalka, Hänsel und Gretel, Otello, Elektra and Eugene Onegin.

After his studies of conducting, collaborative pianist, musicology and philosophy in Hamburg he worked for 10 years at Oper Frankfurt as coach, musical assistant and Kapellmeister.

Guest conducting engagements brought him to The Metropolitan Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, English National Opera amongst others. He worked at international festivals such as Santa Fe Opera, Bregenz Festival, Spoleto Festvial, Aspen Music Festival and with orchestras such as The Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Houston Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Seattle Symphony, San Diego Symphony, hr sinfonieorchester, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony, Hallé Orchestra, Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa. Equally versed in contemporary music he worked together with ensembles such as Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Klangforum Wien and appeared at festivals such as Biennale di Venezia, MiTo Festival, Festival d’Automne Paris, Schwetzinger Festspiele, Maerzmusik, Lincoln Center Festival.

The foundation of the COC Orchestra’s own Opera Orchestra Academy, his regular work with the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto as well as projects with the Australian Music Academy Melbourne, Aspen Music Festvial, Banff Centre and ScotiaFest Halifax reflect Johannes Debus’ strong interest in training, educating and inspiring next generations of musicians. The Mahler-project with GYSO marks his Greek debut.