(Credit: Lutz Edelhoff)

Alexander Prior has been named Music Director of the Theater Erfurt, effective during the 2022-23 season.

Prior was picked from 111 conductors throughout Germany and abroad who applied for the position; he was chosen due to his spirited conducting and his open-mindedness.

In a statement, General Director Guy Montavon said, “We are looking forward to the coming period and are convinced that the Erfurt Philharmonic Orchestra can develop further with Mr. Prior at its helm and that a broad target group will be enthusiastic about classical music.”

Prior has been Chief Conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Canada since the 2018-19 season and has conducted such orchestras as the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, the Bavarian State Orchestra, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonie Orchestra, the Copenhagen Philharmonie Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Camerata Salzburg and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra.

He is also a composer and recently wrote an opera entitled “Swan Song.”