Switzerland’s Fribourg Chamber Orchestra Hires New Artistic Director

Philippe Bach will assume the role as of September 1, 2024

The Orchestre de Chambre Fribourgeois and Freiburger Kammerorchester (OCF/FKO) has announced Philippe Bach as its upcoming artistic director. Bach will succeed its founding chief Laurent Gendre, who held the role for 15 years and announced his departure for the end of the 2023/24 season. 

Following an 18-month search process by the orchestra, Bach was appointed out of eight potential candidates for the role. He was ultimately one of two final candidates who conducted a concert with OCF — the orchestra’s musicians also contributed to a report sent to the selection committee.

Bach has served as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Kammerphilharmonie Graubünden since 2016, and Chief Conductor of the Berner Kammerorchester since 2012.  

Previously, he was Music Director at Das Meininger Theater from 2011 to 2021, First Kapellmeister and Deputy Music Director at Theater Lübeck from 2008 to 2011, and General Music Director of Meininger Hofkapelle from 2010 to 2022. He has also been Assistant Conductor at the Teatro Real in Madrid and assistant to Jesús López Cobos. Bach is signed to Victoria Rowsell Artist Management for general management.

As a guest, he has conducted the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and more. Additionally, his discography is available on the BIS, Claves, Naxos, and Telos labels.

Initially, Bach studied horn at the Bern Conservatory and the Conservatoire de Genève, before pursuing conducting studies at the Zurich Conservatory with Johannes Schlaefli. He later attended Royal Northern College of Music studying with Sir Mark Elder. 

In his new role with OCF, Bach will be responsible for programming and the continued development of OCF’s artistic influence. Bach will also be a member of the OCF operational team — led by president Patrice Borcard, the team includes administrator Laurent de Bourgknecht and the head of production Moreno Gardenghi.

“Convinced of Philippe Bach’s musical skills, the committee was sensitive to the project it presented for the future of the OCF,” reads the press release. “With the ambition to continue the development of a basic repertoire called to nourish the identity of the OCF, Philippe Bach expressed his desire to enrich the orchestra's collaborations with soloists and conductors from other backgrounds, to strengthen the links of the whole with the Fribourg cultural fabric and to arouse the interest of new audiences,” it continued. 

“By being part of the heritage left by his predecessor, Philippe Bach is driven by the desire to strengthen the OCF as a strong cultural landmark in the canton but also to offer it an influence in Switzerland and beyond national borders.”