Christopher Ward (conductor)

Working as music staff on a broad repertoire, he led several new productions, and conducted the Staatsorchester Kassel in a range of concerts as well as directing the theatre’s annual youth orchestra project (TJO).

Here he conducted new productions of Weber’s Der Freischütz, Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, Rigoletto, and Nabucco, Dvořák’s Rusalka, Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges and Daphnis et Chloé, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel, Rameau’s Platée, Obst's Solaris and Haas’ Bluthaus, as well as a number of revivals, ballets and symphonic concerts.

Here he has pursued innovative programming ideas and developed the overall musical standards through numerous productions and concerts (including Berg's Wozzeck, Verdi's La Forza del Destino, Bizet's Carmen, Purcell's King Arthur and Puccini's La Bohème), appearing regularly with Sinfonieorchester Aachen at the Kölner Philharmonie and Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

Alongside maintaining a focus on contemporary music, a baroque ensemble has also been developed from within the orchestra, playing solely on period instruments.

Christopher Ward has also appeared with the orchestra in two feature length films, including Fatih Akin’s box office hit Rheingold.