Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), is one of the most talented German conductors of his generation. His dynamic performances have won praise from the international press: ‘the quick movements of the Eroica were driven with stormy urgency’ (Die Welt, 2007); ‘[the] performance’s sophistication and sensuality comes from the pit’ (LA Times, 2007); ‘the orchestra sparkles and glows under the heated conducting of Sebastian Lang-Lessing’ (Houston Press, 2006); ‘it was Lang-Lessing, in his company debut, who steered Tuesday’s opening to its greatest moments of success’ (San Francisco Times, 2005).

Sebastian’s career began at a young age with engagements at leading opera houses including the Hamburg State Opera, Opéra Bastille in Paris and the Houston Grand Opera. In addition to follow-up appearances at these houses, his opera engagements have included Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg and San Francisco. Sebastian’s appearance at the Los Angeles Opera was at the invitation of Plácido Domingo, and he recently made his Italian debut with Falstaff in a production with Ruggiero Raimondi in the title role.

Following a nine-year tenure with Götz Friedrich at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sebastian was appointed Music Director of the Opéra de Nancy in France. Under Sebastian’s direction the Opéra de Nancy was promoted to national status becoming the Opéra national de Lorraine. In addition to opera, Sebastian’s conducting duties in Nancy included full concert seasons.

In 2005 Sebastian led the TSO on a tour of Japan and inaugurated the TSO’s annual Sydney season. He has released numerous CDs with the TSO on ABC Classics, including the complete symphonies of Schumann, Mozart Arias (with Sara Macliver) and Romantic Overtures. A recording of the complete symphonies of Mendelssohn is nearing completion. His discography also includes music by Brett Dean and other Australian composers, Saint-Saëns, D’Indy, Franck, Ravel and Bruch. His rediscovery of the music of French composer Guy Ropartz and CD releases of Ropartz’s symphonies (Radio France) have been greeted enthusiastically by the press.

Among Sebastian’s guest appearances have been engagements with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre de Toulouse, Orchestre de Bordeaux, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon and major orchestras in Australia. He has also appeared at outdoor events including a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with choreographer Maurice Béjart at Bercy in Paris.

In summer 2008 he will conduct Porgy and Bess in the new opera house in Oslo.