2011년 빈필 신년음악회가 오스트리아 출신 ‘프란츠 벨세르-뫼스트(Franz Welser-Most, 1960- )’의 지휘로 열렸다. 빈필의 신년음악회를 모처럼 오스트리아 출신이 지휘하게 된 것이다. 벨세르-뫼스트는 클리브렌드오케스트라를 지휘하는 등 세계적으로 그 역량을 인정받고 있는 젊은 지휘자이다.
Franz Leopold Maria Möst was born in Linz, Austria, and later studied under the composer Balduin Sulzer. As a youth in Linz, he studied the violin and had developed an interest in conducting. After suffering injuries in a car crash that led to nerve damage, he stopped his violin studies and shifted full-time to conducting studies.[1]
In 1985, Möst assumed the stage name Welser-Möst on suggestion of his mentor, Baron Andreas von Bennigsen of Liechtenstein, thus paying homage to the city of Wels where he grew up.[2][3] In 1986, he was adopted by von Bennigsen. In 1992, Welser-Möst married von Bennigsen’s former wife, Angelika.[4][5][6] His first major debuts were at the Salzburg Festival in 1985, followed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1986 and the Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur in 1988. Other guest conductor appearances comprised the first five years of his career: his American debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1989, performances with the orchestras of Atlanta, Boston, New York, Chicago, plus frequent returns to the London Philharmonic. In 1990, Welser-Möst became principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO).[7] His LPO tenure was controversial, with London critics giving him the nickname “Frankly Worse than Most”.[4] He concluded his LPO tenure in 1996.
From 1995 to 2000, he was music director with the Zurich Opera House. While there, he led 27 new performances as well as numerous revivals. His most noteworthy performances there included the complete Ring Cycle. He became general music director of the Zurich Opera in September 2005, with an original commitment to the Opera through 2011. But Welser-Möst stood down from the Zurich post in July 2008 after having agreed to serve in the same capacity at Vienna’s Staatsoper.
Welser-Möst became music director of The Cleveland Orchestra with the 2002/2003 season, for an initial contract of 5 years. At the end of his first season, his contract was extended for another 5 years. In June 2008, the orchestra announced a further extension of his contract with The Cleveland Orchestra through the 2017/2018 season.[8][9]
On June 6, 2007, the Austrian government announced the appointment of Welser-Möst as Musical Director (Generalmusikdirektor) of the Vienna State Opera beginning in September 2010, alongside Dominique Meyer as director (Staatsoperndirektor).[10][11]
Welser-Möst is an honorary member of the Wiener Singverein.[12]
He conducted the Vienna New Year’s Concert in 2010/2011.[13]
