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The Agentinean-born conductor, Óscar Gershensohn, graduated in Orchestral Conducting at the University of La Plata, Argentina, where he studied with Mario Benzecry, Ljerko Spiller and Guillermo Graetzer. From 1979 to 1984 he was Director of the Coro y Orquesta de Jóvenes Intérpretes de Buenos Aires (Choir & Orchestra of Young Musicians of Buenos Aires). In 1984, he moved to Israel where he obtained the Master (Artist Diploma) in Choral and Orchestral Conducting in the Jerusalem Rubin Academy, moreover completing his studies in the Jerusalem Music Centre. He completed his training in various courses with teachers Kevin Smith, Jane Manning, and with John Alldis in London.
In 1986, Óscar Gershensohn assumed the direction of the Jerusalem Oratory Choir, developing an intense concert activity both in Israel and different tours through Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Belgium. In 1988, he was appointed assistant Conductor of the Israel National Choir, allowing him to collaborate with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and its chief conductor, Zubin Mehta, on various projects, as well as other world-class conductors.
From 1989 to 1991 Óscar Gershensohn was Principal Conductor of the Orchestra ICCY (International Cultural Center for Youth). Since 1990, he lives in Spain, in 1992 founding La Capilla Real de Madrid. Leading this ensemble, he develops a fertile and renowned work in the world of oratory, Baroque opera, the Renaissance and early Baroque periods. He also made several recordings dedicated to the recovery of the Spanish Musical Heritage, as well as performing numerous concerts for Radio y Televisión Española.
As guest conductor, Óscar Gershensohn has directed the following organisations, among others: Israel Broadcasting Orchestra, Internacional Cultural Centre for Youth Orchestra, Rubin Academy Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Music Group Jerusalem, The Israel Sinfonietta, Haifa Symphonic Orchestra, Acco Festival Orchestra, Cameran Singers Tel Aviv, Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, Sinfónica de Mendoza, Orquesta Sinfónica de Asturias, Orquesta de Cámara Reina Sofía, Coro y Orquesta Comunidad de Madrid, and Coro y Orquesta del Principado de Asturias.
Óscar Gershensohn has been invited to conduct in Argentina (Mozarteum), Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Israel (Liturgica Festival, Abu Gosh Festival), Sweden (World Music Festival Stockholm), Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Italy (Jubilee 2000, Festival de Música Antigua de Nápoles-Pietà de’ Turchini), Germany (Alte Oper Frankfurt, Ludwisgburg Festspiele), France (Festival d’Art Sacré de Paris), to name but a few. From 1999 he is the conductor of the Coro Vía Magna, developing an intense activity, above all in Romantic repertoire and in turn, is artistic director of the Coro de Niños de la Comunidad de Madrid since 2009.
Óscar Gershensohn has taught choral and musical forms at the Conservatorio de la Comunidad de Madrid. Since 2001 directs the Curso Internacional de Música Barroca de la Comunidad de Madrid (International Baroque Music Course of the Community of Madrid).
Óscar Gershensohn's special devotion to J.S. Bach’s works led him to programme and conduct, entrusted by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Madrid Town Hall), the series of Ciclo Cantatas de Bach en Madrid - which during nine seasons (2004-2012) he has presented a series of concerts in which, with La Capilla Real de Madrid as resident ensemble and more than 20 other Spanish ensembles, have performed all the cantatas and religious works of the Kantor of Leipzig in churches of Madrid. It is estimated that more than 70,000 people have enjoyed this activity. In the 2012-2013 season, he directs the first edition of the Circulo Bach, a project in which he will tackle, by means of concerts, conferences, chats and courses the universal work of the German Maestro. The venue of the Circulo Bach will be in the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid.
The work completed with different children’s choirs like the Coro de Niños de la Comunidad de Madrid, of which he has been the art director for 3 years, the Coro de Niños Ciudad de León with which he has worked in different projects like the Cantatas by J.S. Bach or Mozart’s Requiem or the Coro del Colegio Ibn Gabirol with whom he performed George Frideric Handel’s Judas Maccabeus invited him to create in 2012 the Coro de Niños de La Capilla Real de Madrid. An artistic and educational project giving the youngest people the opportunity to know the repertoire of ancient music. On December 22, 2012 its presentation in the Teatro Monumental with G.F. Handel’s Messiah will take place. |
