With the launch of a new concert series at the Vienna Kursalon starting in mid-2027, a new musical chapter begins for the Wiener Residenzorchester.
To artistically shape and develop this new era, a new conductor was sought. They will assume the musical direction of the concert series and play a decisive role in shaping the orchestra’s artistic vision.
The conductor carries the musical and artistic responsibility for the orchestra. The duties include planning and leading rehearsals, preparing the musical works, and working closely with the musicians. By developing the musical interpretation, they ensure that all performers come together as a unified ensemble, and they conduct the concerts of both the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra and the Vienna Residence Orchestra.
The traditional German title “Kapellmeister” has a rich history. Originally referring to the director of a princely court chapel, over the centuries it evolved into the professional title for conductors at opera houses and theaters. Today, international terms like Music Director, Conductor, or Maestro are often used in this context.
Some of the most famous conductors to hold this title include Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and Claudio Abbado. They all shaped the sound of major orchestras and inspired generations of musicians.
The search for a new conductor generated great interest, with around 100 applications received from Austria and abroad.
After a careful pre-selection process, four outstanding conductors were invited to the finals – two women and two men.
During an audition rehearsal, the finalists worked with the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra on selected pieces. The focus was not only on musical interpretation and rehearsal work, but also on the collaboration with the musicians.
An important part of the selection process was the opinion of the orchestra itself. The musicians’ feedback was incorporated alongside the assessment of the artistic management into the final decision. This ensured that the choice was based not only on technical qualifications, but also on how well the musical collaboration between the conductor and the orchestra harmonized.
The four finalists of the selection process were Ioanna Vlagkouli (Greece), Robert Papocsi (Hungary), Sangyoung Han (South Korea), and Črt Lasbaher (Slovenia). They impressed with international experience, musical excellence, and distinct artistic focus areas.
Greek conductor Ioanna Vlagkouli combines musical versatility with international experience. After training as a pianist and studying musicology, she began her conducting career under Maestro Lucas Karytinos, graduating with highest honors.
As a conductor, she has worked with renowned orchestras such as the Athens State Orchestra, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, and the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, leading concerts and opera productions across several European countries. Her artistic work has received multiple awards at international conducting competitions, including first prize as well as the Orchestra, Audience, and Best Female Conductor awards at the Wiener Schule Competition in Vienna.
In addition to her work at the podium, Ioanna Vlagkouli is a trained pianist as well as an award-winning ballet dancer and choreographer. With her extraordinary blend of music and dance, she is considered one of the most versatile young conductors of her generation.
Learn more about Ioanna Vlagkouli
The Hungarian conductor Robert Papocsi brings years of international experience as a conductor, educator, and former horn player. Following his musical training as a hornist, he studied conducting and established a versatile career that has led him to numerous opera and concert productions in Austria, Hungary, and other European countries.
Today, he is a professor of conducting at the Richard Wagner Conservatory Vienna as well as chief conductor of the Nagykanizsa Symphony Orchestra. Alongside his teaching activities, he regularly conducts opera productions, symphonic concerts, and festivals, collaborating with orchestras and choirs on the international concert stage.
Learn more about Robert Papocsi
South Korean conductor Sangyoung Han studied orchestral conducting and opera repetiteurship at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. During her studies, she gained extensive experience in opera and concert operations, collaborating with the Vienna Symphony, the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna State Opera, among others.
Since 2024, she has served as a repetiteur and assistant to the chorus master at the Vienna State Opera. There, she further deepened her engagement with the Viennese musical tradition and the repertoire of composers such as Mozart and Strauss. She combines her international experience as a conductor and musical assistant with a clear musical identity and a deep passion for classical music.
Learn more about Sangyoung Han
Slovenian conductor Črt Lasbaher is among the most promising young conductors of his generation. His musical journey began at the age of seven on the piano, before he dedicated himself to orchestral conducting.
After his studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, he continued his education at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, completing it in 2025 with a Master of Arts degree.
During his studies, he gained international experience with renowned orchestras and opera houses. He has conducted the Slovenian Philharmonic, the Slovenian National Theatre Ljubljana, the Savaria Symphony Orchestra, as well as productions for the Schleswig-Holstein Landestheater. As an assistant, he has also worked with notable conductors and orchestras such as Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra.
Learn more about Črt Lasbaher
The decision was anything but easy for both the artistic management and the orchestra. All four finalists impressed with exceptional musical quality, distinct artistic approaches, and inspiring collaboration with the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra and the Vienna Residence Orchestra.
We are all the more delighted to continue working with the other finalists in the future. Audience members can already look forward to further guest conductorships this season:
Four extraordinary conductors, unforgettable concert evenings, and the unique atmosphere of Vienna – experience our conductors live and secure your seat for one of our upcoming concerts.
The Vienna Residence Orchestra, a chamber orchestra with a long tradition, performs works of Viennese classical music to perfection.
