Teodor Currentzis launches Utopia Orchestra

Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis has launched his newest creative project, Utopia Orchestra. Currentzis will be artistic director of the new international orchestra which will give its first concerts in October.

According to the orchestra’s official media release published on Monday, Utopia will bring together musicians from across the world in ‘an idealistic attempt to find an approach to music creation which makes it possible to reach the inner essence of a musical text.’ The release states that the idea ‘emerged several years ago’ but that ‘negotiations took a long while’.

Currentzis said: ‘This is an attempt to leave behind the framework of respectable institutions which, while being blessed can also be doomed to create what could be described as a certain standardized international sound… Of course, this is a utopian idea. Utopia is something that is impossible, and that's what attracts us – making the impossible.’

The news comes at a time when the conductor is under scrutiny regarding the funding of his orchestra MusicAeterna by a Russian state-owned bank with close ties to Putin. The conductor has not issued a response to this backlash or released any statement or comment regarding the war in Ukraine. He continues to perform, having recently led the Mahler Youth Orchestra in opening this year’s Salzburg Festival.

The Utopia orchestra is funded with proceeds from concerts and supported by Kunst und Kultur DM Privatstiftung as well as 'various European patrons'. The orchestra itself will include 112 musicians from 28 countries will take part in the first project.

Rick Stotijn, Double bass player, said: ‘In a world which is splitting apart right now, we want to create a space inhabited by ideas which contribute to uniting, not dividing, and help to establish a dialogue. It is important to us to show that hope and light are stronger than any negative circumstances’.

As part of its first tour in October the orchestra is due to visit venues including Philharmonie Luxembourg, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Wiener Konzerthaus, and Berliner Philharmonie. As Utopia has no permanent residence, the musicians will rehearse at the Philharmonie Luxembourg, before going on tour.

You can find out more about Teodor Currentzis here.