M A R T I N T U R N O V S K Y
Martin Turnovsky was born in Prague, where he studied at the Academy of Musical Arts first with Karel Ancerl, the former director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Prague, and later with George Szell.
After receiving the first prize at the International Competition of conductors in Besancon, France, Martin Turnovsky became permanent conductor of the State Philharmonic Orchestra in Brno. In the following years he was also appointed chief conductor of the Radio Symphony Orchestra Plzen (1963-1966), at the Saxonian Staatskapelle and State Opera, Semperoper, (1966-1968), at the Norwegian State Opera Oslo (1975-1980), at the Opera in Bonn (1979-1983) and of the Prague Symphonic Orchestra (1992-1996).
Between 1960 and 1968, Martin Turnovsky was permanent guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and regulary took part at the International Festival "Prague Spring". After the entry of the Warsaw pact nations into Czecho-Slovakia he emigrated to Austria and was granted Austrian citizenship.
Since then Martin Turnovsky has very successfully been working with the leading western orchestras (New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and others). Besides, Martin Turnovsky led opera productions at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Stuttgarter Staatsoper, the Königliche Oper Stockholm, the Opera Festival at Savonlinna, Finnland, the Theatre du Capitol, Toulouse, the Welsh National Opera, the Opera Festival in Cincinnati.
During this time he also made extensive tours to Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Great Britain and Japan.
After the revolutions in the Central- and Eastern European countries in 1989, Martin Turnovsky was re-invited to conduct the leading orchestras of these countries, including Saxonian Staatskapelle and both Czech and Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra.
During his function as chief conductor of Prague Symphony Orchestra, he also conducted new productions at the State Opera Prague and conducted successful tours with this orchestra (1993: Great Britain, Austria, Japan, France, Switzerland; 1995: Italy).
Since 1994, invitations e.g. of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the orchestras in Brussels, Luxemburg, the New York Chamber Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony and many others followed.
In 1998 he conducted with great success the new production of Janacek's opera "Jenufa" at the Cincinnati Opera House. In the same year he was appointed "Principal Guest Conductor" at the Gunma Symphony Orchestra, Japan. In 2000 the artist had a real triumph at the Meran Festival with Beethoven’s IX Symphony and in 2001 he did Carmina Burana at the same Festival as well as at the prestigious Carinthian Summer Festival, both with overwhelming success.
In fall 2001 he conducted a new production of Dvorák's "Rusalka" at the Seattle Opera House which was enthusiastically received by the audience as well as by the critics.
Martin Turnovsky recorded for the companies Schwann and Supraphon with the Bamberger Symphoniker and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra ("Grand Prix du Disque" for the recording of Martinu's Fourth Symphony).
In 1999 he was granted the "Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst 1. Klasse".