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Simone Young

{{Short description|Australian conductor}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2011}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Simone Young

| image = Simone Young 2010 - Portrait by Bertold Fabricius.jpg

| caption = Young in 2010

| honorific_suffix = AM

| birth_name = Simone Margaret Young

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1961|03|02}}

| birth_place = Sydney, Australia

| education = Sydney Conservatorium of Music

| occupation = Conductor

| organizations = {{ubl| Opera Australia | Hamburg State Opera | University of Hamburg | Sydney Symphony Orchestra }}

| awards = {{ubl| Young Australian of the Year | Ordre des Arts et des Lettres | Order of Australia }}

}}

Simone Margaret Young AM (born 2 March 1961) is an Australian conductor and academic teacher. She is currently chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Biography and career

Young was born in Sydney, of Irish ancestry on her father's side and Croatian ancestry on her mother's.{{cite web|url=http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10022/1/Simone-Young-Australian-conductor-of-Croatian-mother-and-Irish-father.html|title=Simone Young Australian conductor of Croatian mother and Irish father|website=www.croatia.org|access-date=11 January 2019}} Young was educated at the Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College in North Sydney. She studied composition, piano and conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Beginning in 1983, Young worked at Opera Australia as a répétiteur under various conductors, including Charles Mackerras, Richard Bonynge, Carlo Felice Cillario and Stuart Challender. Young started her operatic conducting career at the Sydney Opera House in 1985. In 1986 she was the first woman and youngest person to be appointed a resident conductor with Opera Australia. She received an Australia Council grant to study overseas, and was named Young Australian of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll/?view=fullView&recipientID=130|title=Australian of the Year Awards|website=www.australianoftheyear.org.au|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204450/https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll/?view=fullView&recipientID=130|url-status=dead}} In her early years, she was assistant to James Conlon, and Kapellmeister, at the Cologne Opera, and assistant to Daniel Barenboim at the Berlin State Opera and the Bayreuth Festival. From 1998 until 2002, Young was principal conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway.

From 2001 to 2003, Young was chief conductor of Opera Australia in Sydney. Her contract was not renewed after 2003; one reason offered was the expense of her programming ideas.{{cite news|author=Katrina Strickland|title=OA turns corner on debt|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,15416040-16947,00.html|work=The Australian|date=27 May 2005|access-date=6 April 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Young made her first conducting appearance at the Hamburg State Opera in 1996. In May 2003, she was named both chief executive of the Hamburg State Opera and chief conductor of the Philharmoniker Hamburg, posts which she assumed in 2005.{{cite news | author=John Carmody | title=Sensitive autocrat in a season of content | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,17580597-16947,00.html | work=The Australian | date=16 December 2005 | access-date=6 April 2008 }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In 2006, she became Professor of Music and Theatre at the University of Hamburg. Critics of the magazine Opernwelt selected her in October 2006 as the {{lang|de|Dirigentin des Jahres}} (Conductor of the Year). In December 2011, it was announced that Young would conclude her tenures with both the Hamburg State Opera and the Hamburg Philharmonic after the 2014/2015 season.{{cite news|title=Simone Young will 2015 an der Staatsoper aufhören|url=https://www.abendblatt.de/kultur-live/article108194724/Simone-Young-will-2015-an-der-Staatsoper-aufhoeren.html|work=Hamburger Abendblatt|date=8 December 2011|access-date=7 March 2012|language=de}}

Young was the first female conductor at the Vienna State Opera in 1993. She conducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra when they performed Elena Kats-Chernin's "Deep Sea Dreaming" at the 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/young-simone|title=Simone Young|publisher=Australian Music Centre|access-date=11 January 2019}} In November 2005, she was the first female conductor to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic.{{cite news | title=Simone Young to conduct Vienna Philharmonic | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/09/1131407669716.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=9 November 2005 | access-date=4 January 2007}} Her discography includes the complete symphonies of Anton Bruckner and the complete Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner, where she was the first female conductor to have recorded either of these cycles. She has also recorded the complete cycle of Brahms' symphonies.

In August 2008, Young appeared as part of the judging panel in the reality TV talent show-themed program Maestro on BBC Two.{{cite press release | title=Eight passionate amateurs bid to become BBC Two's Maestro | publisher=BBC | date=23 May 2008 | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/05_may/23/maestro.shtml| access-date = 24 May 2008}} In December 2012, she was voted Limelight magazine's Music Personality of the Year.[https://limelightmagazine.com.au/features/limelight-awards-2012-winners-announced/ "Limelight Awards: 2012 Winners Announced!"] by Melissa Lasnie, Limelight, 17 December 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2023 In 2022, Young was that magazine's critic's choice as Australian Artist of the Year.{{cite magazine|url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/features/artists-of-the-year-2022/|title=The Limelight Artists of the Year for 2022 – Critic's Choice: Simone Young|author=Steve Moffatt|date=21 November 2022|magazine=Limelight|access-date=22 March 2023}}

In 2013, in commemoration of the bicentenaries for Richard Wagner and for Giuseppe Verdi, Young conducted the entire 'Bayreuth canon' of ten Wagner operas at a festival entitled {{lang|de|Wagner-Wahn}} (Wagner Madness) in Hamburg, along with three rarely performed Verdi operas as a trilogy in September to November – La battaglia di Legnano, I due Foscari, I Lombardi alla prima crociata.Canning, Hugh. "Report from Hamburg". Opera, February 2014, vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 185–187. In March 2016, Young was appointed a member of the board of the Europäische Musiktheater-Akademie (European Academy of Music Theatre).[http://musiktheater-akademie.eu/conductor-simone-young-new-member-of-the-board/ "Simone Young new Member of the Board"], Europäische Musiktheater-Akademie, 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016

Young had first guest-conducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in 1996. In December 2019, the SSO announced the appointment of Young as its next chief conductor, effective in 2022, with an initial contract of 3 years.{{cite press release | url=http://www.sydneysymphony.com/backstage-news/article/simone-young-named-chief-conductor | publisher=Sydney Symphony Orchestra | title=Simone Young announced as the next Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra | date=14 December 2019 | access-date=22 December 2019 | archive-date=14 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914200023/https://www.sydneysymphony.com/backstage-news/article/simone-young-named-chief-conductor | url-status=dead }} Young is the first female conductor to be named chief conductor of the SSO.{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/simone-young-named-new-chief-conductor-of-the-sydney-symphony-orchestra-20191210-p53in3.html|title=Simone Young named new chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra|last=Morris|first=Linda|date=14 December 2019|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=14 December 2019}} In February 2024, the SSO announced the extension of Young's contract as its chief conductor through the end of 2026.{{cite press release | url=https://www.sydneysymphony.com/backstage-news/simone-young-extends-contract-to-end-of-2026 | title=Chief Conductor Simone Young Extends Contract to End of 2026 | publisher=Sydney Symphony Orchestra | date=27 February 2024 | access-date=2024-02-28}}

In 2024 Simone Young became the first woman to conduct Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival. {{Cite web |last=Herrmann |first=Hubertus |date=2024-01-11 |title=Simone Young! |url=https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en/festspiele/news/2024/simone-young/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=Bayreuther Festspiele |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Young is married to Greg Condon, and has two daughters. She made her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera while she was five months pregnant and conducted at the Vienna State Opera one month prior to giving birth in 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.blairtindall.com/new_york_times_40290.htm|title=Call Me Madame Maestro|work=The New York Times|date=14 January 2005|author=Blair Tindall}}

Media, honours and awards

Young is featured in the documentary film Knowing the Score directed by Australian documentarian Janine Hosking, a biopic that "is first and foremost a captivating story of a dazzling 30-year music career."[https://www.autlookfilms.com/films/knowing-the-score "Knowing the Score production details"], autlookfilms.com

Young has received honorary doctorates from the universities of New South Wales, Sydney and Melbourne. She has been appointed an (AM) "for service to the arts as a conductor with major opera companies and orchestras in Australia and internationally".

In 2021 Young was named the Advance Awards Global Icon.{{Cite web|url=https://advance.org/advance-award-finalists-2021/|title = Advance Awards 2021 Gamechangers}}

=ARIA Music Awards=

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

{{awards table}}

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|-

| 2002

| Verdi: Requiem (with Opera Australia)

| Best Original Cast or Show Album

| {{nom}}

| ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-original-soundtrack-cast-show-album|title=History Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=12 July 2022}}

|-

{{end}}

=Bernard Heinze Memorial Award=

The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.

{{awards table}}

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|-

| 2010|| Simone Young || Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award || {{yes2|awarded}} || [http://musse.unimelb.edu.au/august-11-66/australian-conductor-simone-young-wins-2011-bernard-heinze-memorial-award MUSSE: Melbourne University Staff / Student E-news]

|-

{{end}}

=Helpmann Awards=

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001.{{cite web | title=Events & Programs| website=Live Performance Australia | url=https://liveperformance.com.au/events-programs/ | access-date=4 October 2022}} Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

{{awards table}}

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|-

| 2001

| Simone Young – Simon Boccanegra

| Best Musical Direction

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2001/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2001 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

| rowspan="2"| 2002

| Simone Young – Andrea Chénier

| Best Music Direction

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2"| {{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2002/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2002 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

| Simone Young – Tristan und Isolde

| Best Music Direction

| {{nom}}

|-

| 2004

| Simone Young – Lulu

| Best Music Direction

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2004/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2004 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

| 2005

| Simone Young – Simone Young Conducts Mahler

| Best Performance in a Classical Concert

| {{won}}

|{{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2005/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2005 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

| 2008

| Simone Young – Turangalîla-Symphonie

| Best Performance in a Classical Concert

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2008/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2008 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

| 2013

| Simone Young conducting the Hamburg Philharmonic – The Resurrection Symphony

| Best Individual Classical Performance

| {{won}}

|{{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2013/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2013 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

| 2018

| Simone Young Conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven and Bruckner

| Best Symphony Orchestra Concert

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web|url= http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/2018/past-nominees-and-winners/ | title= 2018 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners|publisher=Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)|website=Helpmann Awards|access-date=8 October 2022}}

|-

{{end}}

=Mo Awards=

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Simone Young won one award in that time.{{cite web|url=https://www.moawards.com.au/awardwinners|title=MO Award Winners|website=Mo Awards|access-date=16 March 2022}}

{{awards table}} (wins only)

|-

| 1995

| Simone Young

| Classical Performance of the Year

| {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

=Victorian Honour Roll of Women=

The Victorian Honour Roll of Women was established in 2001 to recognise the achievements of women from the Australian state of Victoria.

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2001 || Simone Young|| Victorian Honour Roll of Women|| {{yes2|awarded}} || {{Cite book|url=https://herplacemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-Victorian-Honour-Roll-of-Women-booklet.pdf|title=Victorian Honour Roll of Women|publisher=Victorian Government|year=2018|pages=36|issn=2209-1130}}

|-

{{end}}

=International Opera Awards=

{{awards table}} (wins only)

|-

| 2024

| Simone Young

| Conductor of the Year

| {{won}}{{cite web|url=https://operawire.com/lisette-oropesa-benjamin-bernheim-win-top-prizes-at-opera-awards/|title=Lisette Oropesa & Benjamin Bernheim Win Top Prizes at Opera Awards|website=OperaWire|date=2 October 2024 |access-date=5 October 2024}}

|-

{{end}}

Selected discography

;DVD

;CD

Bibliography

  • {{cite book | last=Pleger | first=Ralf | title=Simone Young: die Dirigentin | publisher=Europäische Verlagsanstalt | publication-place=Hamburg | date=2006 | isbn=978-3-434-50599-0 | language=de}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Commons category-inline}}
  • [https://www.naxos.com/Bio/Person/Simone_Young/56678 "Simone Young's discography], Naxos Records
  • {{IMDb name|nm14495861|Simone Young}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-culture}}

{{succession box | title=Principal Conductor, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra | before=Dmitri Kitayenko | years=1998–2002 | after=Andrew Litton}}

{{succession box | title=Music Director, Opera Australia | before= Richard Bonynge | years=2001–2003 | after=Richard Hickox}}

{{succession box | title=Music Director, Hamburg State Opera | before=Ingo Metzmacher | years=2005–2015 | after=Kent Nagano | years }}

{{s-end}}

{{Young Australians of the Year}}

{{Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award}}

{{Sydney Symphony conductors}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Classical music|Opera}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Simone}}

Category:1961 births

Category:20th-century Australian conductors (music)

Category:20th-century Australian women musicians

Category:21st-century Australian conductors (music)

Category:21st-century Australian women musicians

Category:Australian people of Croatian descent

Category:Australian people of Irish descent

Category:Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Category:Helpmann Award winners

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:Music directors (opera)

Category:Musicians from Sydney

Category:Oehms Classics artists

Category:People educated at Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College

Category:Sydney Conservatorium of Music alumni

Category:Australian women conductors (music)

Category:Academic staff of the University of Hamburg

Category:Chief conductors of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Category:Chief conductors of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Category:Chief conductors of the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg