ABOUT
“The award-winning young conductor George Jackson exerts formidable control over the shape and pace of the action, no easy ask in such a bizarre creation”.
Jessica Duchen, The Arts Desk (Janáček, ‘The Excursions of Mr Brouček / Grange Park Opera / BBC Concert Orchestra)
George Jackson is quickly making a name for the breadth and commitment of his work, whether in opera, symphonic repertoire or contemporary scores, building strong relationships with the orchestras he conducts. In September 2022 Jackson begins his tenure as Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony, leading them in their Centenary year in 2023-24.
Jackson’s skill in preparing complex scores has led to an ongoing relationship with Ensemble Intercontemporain. Together they released the world premiere recording of Steve Reich’s Reich/Richter on Nonesuch Records, following successful performances of the work in Rome, Paris and Luxembourg. He also conducted the group for the French premieres of works by Rebecca Saunders and James Dillon at the 2019 Festival d’Automne à Paris. With Collegium Novum Zürich Jackson conducted Noli me tangere, a new work by Isabel Mundry, and with Brussels Philharmonic he led the world premiere of Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber’s new work, Chahut.
He is increasingly sought-after as a guest with European orchestras, who appreciate his fearless conducting and thorough rehearsal technique. Recent engagements include Orchestre de Paris, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie and the orchestra of Opéra de Rouen.
“George Jackson conducted the full ENO orchestra in a magnificent account of the score, sparkling with playful humour in the dialogues and exultantly romantic in the interludes.”
Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph (Hänsel und Gretel / Grange Park Opera)
“Performed with astounding artistry and commitment by the wonderful musicians of Ensemble InterContemporain under Jackson, Reich/Richter is given a stellar disc premiere. Translucent to the finest detail, the textures are unraveled with ever-delicate balancing, deservedly highlighting the immaculate musicianship inherent in each solo line.”
Jari Kallio, ‘Adventures in Music’ (Reich/Richter / Recording with Ensemble Intercontemporain)
“The City of London Sinfonia, meanwhile, play superbly for Jackson, an excellent conductor, wonderfully alert to the sadness as well as the humour that permeates the score.”
Tim Ashley, The Guardian (The Marriage of Figaro / Opera Holland Park)
“George Jackson conducts with a firm command of the mosaic score’s mood and meter-changing trickiness. He draws exhilarating rhapsodies from the BBC Concert Orchestra, notably the gorgeous conclusion to Act I when lovers Mazal and Malinka rejoice in their vision of a romantic Prague.”
The Stage (Janáček, ‘The Excursions of Mr Brouček / Grange Park Opera / BBC Concert Orchestra)
“Humperdinck’s debt to Wagner is inescapable in this score, and George Jackson and the ENO Orchestra draw it out in a way that adds to the music’s stature without sounding merely derivative. A piercing solo trumpet in the Prelude for a moment stranded you in Parsifal, links between orchestra and singers were expertly and naturally judged, and the music’s abundance of charm, atmosphere and shameless memorability are all there for the hearing. If I were coming to this inexhaustible opera for the first time, this would be a touchstone production.”
Peter Reed, Grange Park Opera / Hänsel und Gretel, Classical Source
“Das Potenzial für einen spritzige Rossiniaufführung wäre vorhanden gewesen, zumal auch George Jackson mit dem Wiener KammerOrchester hörbar und differenziert gearbeitet hat. Jacksons Rossini hatte Humor und kurbelte den Abend „hoffnungsfroh“ an”.
Dominik Troger, Theater an der Wien / The Barber of Seville, Der Neue Merker
“Das BBC Concert Orchestra unter der souveränen Stabführung von George Jackson umschiffte souverän die Klippen der zahlreichen schwierigen Dissonanzen im ersten Teil vor der großen Picnic-Pause und widmete sich danach subtil der feineren Musik, wie man sie bei Janáček so sehr liebt.”
Dr. Charles E. Ritterband, Janáček, ‘The Excursions of Mr Brouček / Grange Park Opera / BBC Concert Orchestra, Klassik Begeistert
“Viel Anteil am Gelingen des Abends hatte Dirigent George Jackson mit den Musikern von Chor und Orchester der Kammeroper. Ein ausdrückliches, melodisch aufblühendes Klangbild.”
Bernhard Uske, Kammeroper Frankfurt / Pagliacci, Frankfurter Rundschau
“Tout aussi stupéfiante est cette partition, que George Jackson dirige avec beaucoup de souplesse, car elle relève à la fois du retour aux sources (les variations infinitésimales deMusic for 18 Musicians, en 1976) et du renouvellement (motifs orientalisants, faux prélude de Bach)pour témoigner d’une véritable régénérescence, tant de la musique que du compositeur.”
Pierre Gervasoni, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Steve Reich: Reich/Richter, Philharmonie de Paris, Le Monde
“Da groovt und jazzt es, klassische Klänge stehen neben einem frei melodischen Spiel der Kräfte. Diese Musik überzeugt auch dank Dirigent George Jackson und des recht groß besetzen Wiener Kammerorchesters.”
Peter Jarolin, Theater an der Wien, Tscho Theissing: ‘Genia’ (World Premiere), Kurier
Praised for his natural affinity for opera, he has received acclaim for his work in productions of Hänsel und Gretel and The Excursions of Mr Brouček (Grange Park Opera), Le nozze di Figaro (Opera Holland Park), and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Theater an der Wien). Future plans include his Wrocław Opera debut with Rigoletto, and the world premiere of Gods of the Game, a collaborative opera commissioned by Sky Arts for Grange Park Opera.
The son of actor parents, Jackson began inventing theatrical entertainments with his sister at an early age, as well as learning the violin, and later served as a drummer and guitarist in post-punk, rock and Irish folk bands, developing broad musical tastes that he retains to this day. Jackson’s formative experiences include his participation at Lucerne Festival Academy and at Aspen Music Festival, where he was awarded the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2015. He is passionate and informed about the art and traditions of conducting, and regularly passes on his enthusiasm through podcasts on the subject.
CALENDAR
June 9, 18, 26, 29 + July 7 2022
Grange Park Opera
The Theatre in the Woods
West Horsley Place KT24 6AN
Grange Park Opera / BBC Concert Orchestra
Janáček: The Excursions of Mister Brouček
Conductor: George Jackson
Director: David Pountney
Malinka: Fflur Wyn
Sakristan: Clive Bayley
Mister Brouček Peter Hoare
Würfl: Andrew Shore
Mazal: Mark Le Brocq
27th July 2022, 4pm
Benedict Music Tent, Aspen, CO, USA
Aspen Music Festival / Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra
Gomez: Overture to ‘Il Guarany’
Bruch: Violin Concerto (Soloist: Fiona Shea)
Britten: A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
20th August 2022
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Royal Concertgebouw Youth Orchestra / Concertgebouworkest Young
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 (‘From the New World’)
16th and 17th September 2022
Globe News Centre, Amarillo, TX
Amarillo Symphony
Michael Daugherty: Route 66
WA Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 (Soloist: Jeffrey Biegel)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
Thursday 6 October 3:30pm
Saturday 8 October 3:30pm
Sunday 9 October 3:30pm
Wednesday 12 October 3:30pm
Thursday 13 October 3:30pm
Saturday 15 October 3:30pm
Sunday 16 October 3:30pm
Grange Park Opera
The Theatre in the Woods
West Horsley Place KT24 6AN
Grange Park Opera in collaboration with Sky Arts
Phil Porter: ‘Gods of the Game: A Football Opera’
Director: PJ Harris
Conductor George Jackson
Designer Jamie Vartan
Choreographer Lizzie Gee
Lighting Mark Henderson
Video Duncan McLean
Sound Design Tom Marshall
VIKO, Football legend ∙ MICHEL DE SOUSA
EVA, Footballer & Viko’s childhood friend ∙ MILLY FORREST
SOREN, Viko’s rival ∙ DAVID WEBB
PRESIDENT ∙ ALAN EWING
BIOGRAPHER ∙ IDUNNU MUNCH
COMMENTATOR∙ LEE MACK
November 2022
Opera Wrocławska, Wrocław, Poland
Opera Wrocławska
Verdi: ‘Rigoletto’
Conductor: George Jackson
Cast TBC
December 10th, 2022
Will Rogers Memorial Center, Forth Worth, Texas
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
G.F. Handel: ‘Messiah’
George Jackson conductor
Molly Netter, soprano
Luthien Brackett, mezzo-soprano
Steven Soph, tenor
Jonathan Woody, bass
University of North Texas Vox Aquilae
20th and 21st January 2023
Globe News Centre, Amarillo, TX
Amarillo Symphony
Rodolfo Leone piano George Jackson conductor
Caroline Shaw: Entre’acte
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 (‘Unfinished’)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (‘Emperor’
24th and 25th February 2023
Globe News Centre, Amarillo, TX
Amarillo Symphony
Repertoire tbc
24th and 25th March 2023
Globe News Centre, Amarillo, TX
Amarillo Symphony
Amarillo Master Chorale and George Jackson conductor
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
2st and 22nd April 2023
Globe News Centre, Amarillo, TX
Amarillo Symphony
Joyce Yang piano George Jackson conductor
World Premiere of Student Composition from WTAMU
Ravel: Mother Goose Ballet (full)
Rachmaninoff: Second Piano Concerto
CONTACT
General Management
Jordi Martin Mont
jordi@maestroarts.com +44 7934 568677
Sophie Farrell
sophie@maestroarts.com +44 7788 284615
Management in Italy
Silvia Paolucci
spaolucci@melosopera.com +39 349 3002723
Markus Laska
mlaska@melosopera.com +39 348 5278616
Contact
george@amarillosymphony.org