ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHIEF CONDUCTOR

Zvonimir Hačko assumed OMF's top creative role in 2014 having served the festival as artistic advisor for three years. A conductor of international stature, he brings with him a broad artistic perspective, rich international connections and an in-depth knowledge of styles and repertoire. In addition to his leadership of Oregon Music Festival, he also serves as Artistic Director of Österreichische Symphoniker (Austrian Symphony Orchestra) and principal conductor of several international project. He is a frequent guest conductor with orchestras in Europe, United States, Asia and South America.
Born and raised in former Yugoslavia, he came to the United States where he completed advanced degrees in conducting at the University of Washington (M.Mus) and Indiana University - Bloomington (DMA). Since the late 1980’s he has maintained an active international career. His recent guest conducting engagements include Brazil National Symphony, Haifa Symphony, Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra (Georgia), State of Mexico Symphony, Symphony Orchestra of Serbian Radio-Television, Poznan Philharmonic (Poland), Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana (Italy), He has also worked with Oesterreichische Symphoniker, Sacramento Philharmonic (USA), Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra (USA), Orchestra and Chorus of Croatian National Theater, Croatian Philharmonic, Orquesta de Camara de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), European Master Orchestra and many others. His multicultural background and experience have contributed to his in-depth knowledge of the European classical tradition as well as to his avid interest in contemporary music. The maestro is also known for his flare for creative programing and innovative project design. His activities on the international scene have led him to many great concert halls and work with a number of prominent artists.
Hačko’s current recording projects include a Bohuslav Martinů series with Budapest Symphony Orchestra (on Naxos label), an all-Italian CD with Roma Sinfonietta, a recording of contemporary Polish works with London Sinfonietta, and a CD of Respighi’s tone poems with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Future concert engagements include performances with St. Petersburg State Capella Symphony Orchestra, Romanian State Philharmonic Orchestra (at Genoa International Festival), Prague Chamber
Orchestra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra, Portland Symphonic Choir & Orchestra, opera performances at the Teatro
della Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini (Italy) and, locally, concerts with PEARL Chamber Orchestra and Oregon Festival Orchestra.
Born and raised in former Yugoslavia, he came to the United States where he completed advanced degrees in conducting at the University of Washington (M.Mus) and Indiana University - Bloomington (DMA). Since the late 1980’s he has maintained an active international career. His recent guest conducting engagements include Brazil National Symphony, Haifa Symphony, Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra (Georgia), State of Mexico Symphony, Symphony Orchestra of Serbian Radio-Television, Poznan Philharmonic (Poland), Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana (Italy), He has also worked with Oesterreichische Symphoniker, Sacramento Philharmonic (USA), Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra (USA), Orchestra and Chorus of Croatian National Theater, Croatian Philharmonic, Orquesta de Camara de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), European Master Orchestra and many others. His multicultural background and experience have contributed to his in-depth knowledge of the European classical tradition as well as to his avid interest in contemporary music. The maestro is also known for his flare for creative programing and innovative project design. His activities on the international scene have led him to many great concert halls and work with a number of prominent artists.
Hačko’s current recording projects include a Bohuslav Martinů series with Budapest Symphony Orchestra (on Naxos label), an all-Italian CD with Roma Sinfonietta, a recording of contemporary Polish works with London Sinfonietta, and a CD of Respighi’s tone poems with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Future concert engagements include performances with St. Petersburg State Capella Symphony Orchestra, Romanian State Philharmonic Orchestra (at Genoa International Festival), Prague Chamber
Orchestra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra, Portland Symphonic Choir & Orchestra, opera performances at the Teatro
della Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini (Italy) and, locally, concerts with PEARL Chamber Orchestra and Oregon Festival Orchestra.
Hačko has that rare and enviable ability to conduct large, expansive works with great attention to detail while traversing the vast musical terrain with sustained, relentless energy that gives the performance both visceral and architectural integrity.
I. Jan Cesar, Who is Who in Music/Europe |
More Informaton |
From the Press |
A mesmerizing performance ... the orchestra played as if plugged into a high voltage current... [Beijing Daily, China]
With the assured leadership of the conductor (Zvonimir Hacko) the orchestra sounded exhilarating and polished. [Münchner Merkur, Germany] He not only made the walls of the great basilica tremble, but our hearts also. [National Basilica, Brussels, Belgium] Extraordinary three nights ... It is an achievement of unusual weight to present early masterpieces of this caliber played so well by such able performers of this stature in the early music field. [Sacramento Bee, California, USA] Led superbly by the (festival) Music Director Zvonimir Hacko, the performances sparkled. [Sacramento Bee, California, USA] The maestro led the orchestra with precission and energy that created a vivid music canvas and a convincing performance. [Kronen Zeitung, Austria] The performance, which showcased another regional premiere of Peteris Vasks’ work and two standards by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven, was executed with brilliance and conviction. It revealed the orchestra as a finely-tuned ensemble and Hacko as an artist of international stature whose passion, understanding of music, and technical mastery rightly inspire audiences. [News & Review, California, USA] |