Alejandro Cantalapiedra new (junior) assistant conductor Dutch National Opera and Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

From season 2023/2024 assistant to chief conductor Lorenzo Viotti

Spaniard Alejandro Cantalapiedra is the new junior assistant conductor at Dutch National Opera and assistant conductor at the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. From season 2023/2024, Cantalapiedra will assist chief conductor Lorenzo Viotti with Wagner’s Lohengrin and Puccini’s Il trittico at Dutch National Opera, as well as all of his symphonic concerts at the Netherlands Philharmonic.

Alejandro Cantalapiedra was selected from 150 entries, of which twelve auditioned. The candidates worked with both the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and a number of singers from Dutch National Opera Studio. Alejandro Cantalapiedra distinguished himself with his clear and delicate communication and great knowledge of the score.

Alejandro Cantalapiedra (b. 1994) was born in Soria, Spain. He studied architecture at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and piano and orchestral conducting at the Conservatory of Music in Madrid under Juan Mara Esteban del Pozo and Miguel Romea. He is currently studying orchestral conducting at Codarts in Rotterdam with Hans Leenders and Sander Teepen and choral conducting with Wiecher Mandemaker. Earlier this season, Cantalapiedra made his debut at The Concertgebouw with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, with new works by Rick van Veldhuizen and Meriç Artaç. Cantalapiedra previously assisted Cornelius Meister, Marc Albrecht, and Patrick Hahn at Dutch National Opera with the operas Salome, Königskinder, and Der Freischütz.

(Junior) assistant conductor
The position of (junior) assistant conductor has been shared with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra since the 2020/2021 season. All rehearsals and concerts led by the chief conductor are attended by the (junior) assistant conductor. The (junior) assistant conductor will also be assigned one or more smaller projects. The position is for one year, with the prospect of an extension for another year. Alejandro Cantalapiedra succeeds Giuseppe Mengoli, who recently assisted Teodor Currentzis with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and the SWR Symphony Orchestra and signed a contract with Keynote Artist Management. Nil Venditti was the assistant conductor before Mengoli. HarrisonParrott is currently representing her.