In September 2026, Marc Albrecht takes on the role of Chief Conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. During spring 2026, the new chief conductor will already introduce himself to the Antwerp audience.
Marc Albrecht, from Hannover, is a highly sought-after conductor worldwide, specializing in German and Austrian late-Romantic repertoire and contemporary music. His approach combines the transparency of chamber music with the intensity of symphonic work. In recent seasons, he has conducted at opera houses in Berlin, Tokyo and Geneva. Recent symphonic appearances have taken him to prestigious orchestras such as the Oslo Philharmonic, the Orquestra Gulbenkian in Lisbon and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin.
Albrecht has received numerous awards, including twice 'Conductor of the Year' (International Opera Awards in 2019 and OPUS KLASSIK in 2021). His recordings have been awarded multiple times, such as the OPUS KLASSIK for Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau and Korngold's Das Wunder der Heliane. In recognition of his contributions to Dutch musical life during his ten-year period as Music Director of De Nationale Opera and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, he was appointed Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion in 2020.
His career has been strongly influenced by Claudio Abbado, with whom he collaborated at the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. After studies in Vienna and engagements at opera houses in Vienna and Hamburg, he became Generalmusikdirektor in Darmstadt. Later, he led the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and was chief conductor for ten years of the Dutch National Opera, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.
The official inaugural concert of the new chief conductor will take place in September 2026. Leading up to this, the Antwerp audience will be able to enjoy his collaboration with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra during the 2025-2026 season, when Marc Albrecht will conduct two concert programmes as the incoming chief conductor.