MARCUS
MERKEL

Conductor, Composer, Pianist

„... one of the most interesting young German conductors of the present day ...“

— MDR Klassik

Marcus Merkel is a young German conductor and has been Chief Conductor at Theater Koblenz since the 2022/23 season. Guest engagements take him to the Semperoper Dresden, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, the Teatro Real Madrid and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. He regularly works with soloists including Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča, Sir Bryn Terfel, Ludovic Tézier and Kristīne Opolais. He also performs as a pianist and composer.

In the 2025/26 season, he makes his debut at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, with the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz with symphony concerts, returns to the Semperoper Dresden with a performance series of Die Fledermaus, and records a CD with the RSO Vienna featuring Austrian baritone Rafael Fingerlos.

Since youth work and supporting young musicians are highly important to him, he founded the Junge Philharmonie Berlin and the Junge Konzerte Graz and works with Jeunesse Austria.

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Schedule

Marcus Merkel at Antwerp Symphony (c) Antwerp Symphony & Bjorn Comhaire
Wed
13
May

AK Classics IV – Ingensand 2. Symphonie & Dvořáks "Aus der Neuen Welt" | Bruckner Orchester Linz

Concert
19:00 – 21:30
Brucknerhaus Untere Donaulände 7, 4020 Linz, ÖsterreichMaps
The conductor Ingo Ingensand is closely associated with the AK Classics concerts. He has conducted numerous concerts. In 2010, his first symphony with the The conductor Ingo Ingensand is closely associated with AK Classics concerts. He has conducted numerous concerts. In 2010, his first symphony was premiered with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz at AK Classics. At the time, the work was combined with Antonín Dvořák's 7th Symphony. The young, up-and-coming conductor Marcus Merkel combines Ingensand's 2nd Symphony with its big sister - the 9th Symphony. Along with Brahms, Bruckner and Tchaikovsky, Dvořák is considered one of the greatest symphonists of the Romantic period. His "Symphony from the New World" is a well-known jewel in the concert repertoire. With marvellous melodies, the Czech composer transports us to the vastness of America - and yet remains deeply rooted in his Bohemian homeland.

Ingo Ingensand
Symphony No. 2, op. 20

Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95

Bruckner Orchestra Linz
Marcus Merkel | Conductor
Fri
19
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
Premiere
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
Sun
21
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
2nd performance
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
Tue
23
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
3rd performance
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
Thu
25
Jun
Beethoven

Fidelio | Theater Koblenz

Opera
4th performance
19:00 – 21:30
Production: Beethoven: Fidelio
Theater Koblenz | Theaterzelt Greiffenklaustraße 1–3, 56077 Koblenz, DeutschlandMaps
Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven - Concert performance

Christoph Plessers, Don Fernando
Don Pizarro

Nico Wouterse


Heiko Trinsinger

Florestan

Tobias Haaks
Leonore

Adréana Kraschewski
Rocco

Jongmin Lim
Marcelline

Hannah Beutler
Jaquino

Piotr Gryniewicki
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Reviews

„Von Chemnitz in die Welt“

„... What he does with his hands is all the more precise, with a focus on marvellous details, when he makes the brass sparkle and the woodwinds glitter lasciviously. But also capable of controlled ecstasy ...“ — Werner Kopfmüller, Leipziger Volkszeitung

„Voces del Real: Ludovic Tézier“

„... The discovery of the evening, however, was the conductor, a young artist who is able to switch between the academicism of a David, the Offenbachian splendour, the biblical and oriental cancan of a Don Camille, the decadent exaltation of a Massenet and the monumentality of a Wagner.“ — Blas Matamoro, scherzo

„La clemenza di Tito“

„... The Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, under the direction of Marcus Merkel, performs in the orchestra pit of the Rokokotheater with a wide-awake presence and delivers a lively and crisp sound that does Mozart credit. ...“ — Uwe Rauschelbach, Schwetzinger Zeitung

„Carmen“

„...Conductor Marcus Merkel challenges the orchestra made up of members of the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra to brilliant performances, builds up a broad dynamic spectrum and awakens the Andalusian flair in the audience's imagination with Bizet's sparkling rhythms....“ — Paul Stepanek, Oberösterreichische Nachrichten

„Così fan tutte“

„...The sparks also fly in the orchestra pit, Marcus Merkel draws a lively Mozart sound from the Rheinische Philharmonie....“ — Florian Oberhummer, Salzburger Nachrichten

More reviews
Tosca Preview - Jonas Kaufmann & Marcus Merkel

Repertoire

Marcus Merkel's opera repertoire includes 55 works of stage literature - in 77 productions to date.

View entire repertoire
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