Vienna State Opera Announces New Concertmaster

25-year-old Yamen Saadi will assume the joint role at both the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic from the 2022/23 season

Born in Nazareth, Yamen Saadi first studied the violin at the Barenboim-Said Conservatory and then went on to study with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster, Chaim Taub. At age 11, he joined the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, and six years later became concertmaster of the orchestra.

A graduate of the Barenboim-Said Academy, he gained his Master’s degree at the Kronberg Academy where he studied with Mihaela Martin.

Most recently, he passed the audition for the Vienna State Opera concertmaster in June. His first performance in the role will be on October 26 of Sleeping Beauty.

In May 2022, Saadi stepped in for Leonidas Kavakos to make his debut with the Israel Philharmonic. As a soloist, Saadi has also performed with orchestras such as Staatskapelle Berlin, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra de València, Kremerata Baltica, Harvard Orchestra, Galilee Chamber Orchestra, and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has performed with conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Lawrence Foster, Leonidas Kavakos, Yaron Traub, and Christoph Poppen.

A prize winner at the Aviv and Paul Ben Haim Competition, he was awarded scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and The Prince von Hessen Award.

As a chamber musician, Saadi co-founded the Kersjes Prize-winning Chianti Ensemble.