Ion Marin


Ion Marin is a Romanian born Austrian conductor. He is internationally renowned both in operatic and symphonic domains.

Early life

Born in Bucharest, son of choir conductor Constantin Marin, founder of the Madrigal Choir, Ion Marin started studying piano and violin at the age of three. He graduated the George Enescu Music College in 1979. In 1983 he graduated in composition at the National Music Academy of Bucharest, where he studied with Tiberiu Olah and Anatol Vieru. His education was completed at the Salzburg Mozarteum with Carlo Zecchi and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena with Franco Ferrara.
Following his debut in 1981, he was appointed chief conductor of the Arad Philharmonic. He founded the Transylvania Chamber Orchestra that he toured in France and Italy in 1983 and 1985. Between 1982 and 1985 he guest conducted most of Romanian orchestras as well as orchestras in Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union.
In 1986 Marin received the Gottfried von Herder Preis-Stipendium of the Vienna University. He sought political asylum in Austria and was condemned in absence by the Romanian Ceausescu regime. He returned to conduct in Romania in 2007.

Early career

In May 1987 Marin conducted Berg's Wozzeck at the Vienna State Opera and was hired by Claudio Abbado as his assistant conductor. In February 1988 he made his official debut with Maria Stuarda and became resident conductor under Abbado's tenure as music director.
Until 1991 he conducted at the Vienna State Opera a large repertoire from Mozart to Alban Berg.
In Vienna he collaborated with the some of the world's greatest singers: Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Thomas Hampson, Gundula Janowitz, Hermann Prey, Ruggero Raimondi, Agnes Baltsa, Hildegard Behrens, Éva Marton, Giuseppe Taddei.
In 1988 he received the Austrian citizenship by presidential decree, for special contribution to the Republic of Austria.

Opera activity – highlights

Since 1988, Marin conducted in major opera houses around the world.
New productions highlights:
Without ever pursuing permanent positions, Marin guest conducting activity include:
Festival appearances between 1993 and 1996 include: Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Orchestre de Paris.

Discography

Marin's discography earned him three Grammy Award nominations, a Diapason d'Or and the Echo Klassik Award.
AlbumOrchestraLabelYear
Max Bruch, Violin Concertos – Guy BraunsteinBamberger SymphonikerTudor2013
Marta Argerich: Lugano ConcertsMarta Argerich: Lugano ConcertsDeutsche Grammophon2012
The Waldbühne BoxBerliner PhilharmonikerEuro Arts2012
Legacy, David GarrettRoyal PhilharmonicDecca2011
Dvorak, Symphony no. 9Czech PhilharmonicExton2011
An evening with Renee FlemingBerliner PhilharmonikerEuroArts2010
Salut – Piotr BeczalaMunich Radio OrchestraOrfeo2008
Rossini, La Cenerentola Bartoli,Widmer, Osborn, ChaussonZurich Opera OrchestraHouse of Opera2007
Bruckner, Symphony no.4BBC ScottishBBC Music2004
Live from Covent Garden – Angela GheorghiuRoyal Opera Covent GardenEmi2002
Mahler, Symphony no.4BBC ScottishBBC Music2001
Mysterium – Angela GheorghiuLondon PhilharmonicDecca2001
Joaquin Rodrigo PanoramaPhilarmonia OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon2000
Barbara Hendricks – MozartEnglish Chamber OrchestraEmi1998
Dmitri Dimitri HvorostovskyPhilharmonia OrchestraaPhilips1997
Placido Domingo DuetsyLondon SymphonyDeutsche Grammophon1994
Bel Canto – Dimitri HvorostovskyPhilharmonia OrchestraPhilips1994
Rossini, Semiramide Studer, Ramey, Lopardo,LarmoreLondon SymphonyDeutsche Grammophon1994
Donizetti, Lucia di Lamermoor Studer,Domingo,Pons,RameyLondon SymphonyDeutsche Grammophon1993
Rossini, Il Signor Bruschino Battle, Ramey, Lopardo, LarmoreEnglish Chamber OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon1993
Khatchaturian Flute Concerto – Patrick GalloisPhilharmonia OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon1992
Rossini Heroines – Cecilia BartoliTeatro La FeniceDecca1992
Ave Maria – Cheryl StuderLondon SymphonyDeutsche Grammophon1992
Agnes Baltsa sings RossiniWiener SymphonikerySony Classical1991
Ferruccio Furlaneto sings MozartWiener SymphonikerySony Classical1991

Social involvement

In 2011, Marin created in Romania the Cantus Mundi project, a social integration initiative based on choral singing and aiming to overcome all sorts of discrimination, by bringing together Romania's children, rich and poor, motion handicapped, ethnic minorities, blind, autistic and orphans. In 2014, by Governmental decision, Cantus Mundi became a National Program and is implemented throughout the country. It aims to reach 250,000 children over the next three years. The complementary part of the project, Symphonia Mundi, based on instrumental group playing has been launched in 2016.