ACHIM HOLUB

BIOGRAPHY

[…] was fortunate to be directed by Achim Holub, a young Austrian musician, who, certainly on this showing, deserves encouragement and support from the highest level
[...] As an interpretation, Holub’s account [of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9] was totally convincing, and of no little musical distinction. […] This young man could go far.
Robert Matthew-Walker, Classical Source[…] Achim Holub, the superb conductor, had complete control over his forces without being over demonstrative. This was particularly noticeable in the last work, the Jupiter Symphony, where he conducted without a score and managed to convey the meaning of each of the four movements skilfully.
John Packwood, Bristol Evening PostAchim Holub is widely regarded as one of the most successful Austrian conductors of the younger generation. Audiences and the press are thrilled by his dynamic and innovative interpretations and colleagues and orchestra managers alike praise his meticulous preparation and professional conducting technique.Since 2010 he has been principal conductor of the London Classical Soloists, one of London's leading chamber orchestras which has performed many of the major classical and early romantic symphonic works, including the complete Beethoven symphonies, during the last years and are currently embarking on the complete Schumann and Brahms symphony cycles.For the last eight years, he has also been collaborating with the Orpheus Sinfonia and Firebird, two orchestra projects under the patronage of Dame Judi Dench, performing with them at the most important venues in London and on a tour to Austria.
Furthermore, Achim is artistic director of Kammerphilharmonie Graz, one of Central Europe’s leading chamber orchestras, with which he has been giving many concerts in several parts of Austria within the last 15 years.Up until then, he was assistant conductor with the Berlin Philharmonic, the NDR-Sinfonieorchester, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic and worked together for many years with Sir John Eliot Gardiner at concerts and recordings for Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft.For twenty years now, Achim has been conducting concerts with some of the most prominent orchestras in Europe, such as the English Baroque Soloists, the Graz Symphony Orchestra, the NDR-Sinfonieorchester, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Slovene Philharmonic Ljubljana and the Thüringen Philharmonie on a tour through Eastern Germany.
He recorded together with Sir John Eliot Gardiner Percy Grainger’s „The Warriors“ for Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft and collaborated several times with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF.Born into a creative, cosmopolitan family, he received his first music tuition at the age of six and decided shortly afterwards to become a professional musician.
He then studied conducting with Milan Horvat in Graz, Michael Gielen in Salzburg und Ferdinand Leitner in Siena. Subsequently, he participated in one of the world’s most prestigious conducting courses, the NOS Conductors’ Masterclass in Hilversum, and Sir Georg Solti invited him to a study visit at the Salzburg Festival.Achim frequently presents educational events and is an experienced pianist, performing as accompanist at chamber music concerts and Lieder recitals.

PRESS

KAMMERPHILHARMONIE GRAZ

Kammerphilharmonie Graz was founded in 2001 by Achim Holub and swiftly established itself as one of the most successful chamber orchestras in Central Europe, with concerts at Minoritensaal in Graz, Alban-Berg-Saal in Ossiach and many other important locations in Styria, Carinthia and Burgenland.Many of the original musicians are now members of world-famous symphony orchestras, such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna Symphony and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Kammerphilharmonie Graz has gained international importance particularly since 2007, through its participation in Achim Holub's master classes for conductors, which have become one of the world's leading events of this kind in recent years.From the beginning, the focus was on the core repertoire of Viennese classical music, with the great symphonies of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, which was gradually supplemented with works from the Baroque period.
Furthermore, the last years saw the first foray into the area of Romanticism with symphonies by Schubert and Mendelssohn.
In addition to incorporating findings from historically informed performance practice, it is especially important for Achim Holub and the musicians to focus on specifically Austrian stylistic features such as beauty of sound and organic shaping of melodies.
Depending on the repertoire, historical instruments are used, especially natural horns and trumpets and authentic timpani.The press reaction so far has been exceptionally positive, with particular emphasis on the lively and original style of music-making.

LONDON CLASSICAL SOLOISTS

The London Classical Soloists were founded by Achim Holub in November 2010 at a charity concert at Holy Trinity Brompton, in London's most exclusive neighbourhood, Knightsbridge. Soloist at that concert was Tamsin Waley-Cohen.
The orchestra was from the beginning made up with the most qualified graduates of London’s elite music colleges who later started impressive careers with orchestras like the Philharmonia, London Symphony and BBC Symphony.
Many of the musicians of the first hour are still with the group, and within the last 13 years the orchestra has explored not only the complete symphonic works by Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms, but also the major symphonies by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Mendelssohn.
And last but not least, the orchestra became famous with its involvement at Achim Holub’s conducting masterclasses, with hundreds of participants from all over the world, some of them now very successful conductors on their own right, like Karin Hendrickson and Mathieu Herzog.
The orchestra continues to give concerts and masterclasses and is planning extensive touring to Europe for 2025.