Frauke Roth has been general manager of the Dresden Philharmonic since January 2015.
With unusual ideas, a high level of commitment, intensive communication and an infectious passion for music, she has since led the orchestra to a new international reputation and made it a strong and reliable player in Dresden's cultural landscape.
Shortly after taking office, she succeeded in convincing Dresden's city council of her vision for the new concert hall in the Kulturpalast. Since its opening in 2017, the hall has become one of the most sought-after "third places" for Dresden audiences. In the international music world, it is now considered one of the best new concert halls worldwide. Under her leadership, the Dresden Philharmonic also handles the rental of the concert hall - she implemented this segment so successfully that there is practically no free evening in the concert hall any more.
With great commitment, she expands and profiles both the concert programme of the Dresden Philharmonic and the Philharmonic Choirs as well as smaller formats: Concert introductions, after concert lounges, rehearsal visits or even workshop discussions for all age groups. Discovering new concert forms such as phil and opening up to film, world music and jazz are attracting more and more young audiences. Since she took office, attendance at the Dresden Philharmonic has risen significantly.
The complete recording of all Beethoven and Shostakovich symphonies with the Dresden Philharmonic under the direction of Michael Sanderling on Sony Classical is considered a "reference recording" by critics. Frauke Roth created the framework conditions for this milestone in the orchestra's history.
Career
Born in Hamburg, Frauke Roth studied flute in Freiburg and London. After engagements in Pforzheim and Rostock, she completed her concert exam at the "Hanns Eisler" Academy of Music in Berlin in 1999. She first experienced musicians taking responsibility for their programmes and also being involved in important musical decisions as a flutist with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
Influenced by these experiences, she became manager of the Oriol Berlin ensemble in 1998. She attracted much attention with a festival on Schönberg's Berlin School. In 2000, Frauke Roth succeeds in establishing this highly specialised ensemble with 24 members together with the Potsdam Persius Ensemble as the house orchestra of the newly opened Nikolaisaal in Potsdam.
As managing director, she merges the two ensembles to form the Kammerakademie Potsdam. In 2001, the new orchestra is ready to begin performances. Frauke Roth transforms the orchestra into a sought-after chamber orchestra that develops into a specialist for music of the 18th century as well as modern music. The Kammerakademie Potsdam quickly makes a name for itself as a partner of international soloists such as Emmanuel Pahud and Albrecht Mayer, and works with renowned conductors such as Andrea Marcon, Michael Sanderling and Antonello Manacorda. One of her most successful projects is the "Potsdam Winter Opera" in the Neues Palais - so far a model of success. For this she wins directors such as Achim Freyer, Lydia Steier and Andrea Moses. An impressive discography testifies to her success in this sector as well.
Already at this time, her special concerns include cultural education projects. In 2013, Frauke Roth implemented "Music Creates Perspectives" in a hotspot school in Potsdam Drewitz. In 2017, this educational programme was awarded the special prize of the Office of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media "Culture Opens Worlds" by the Minister of State for Culture, Monika Grütters.
Frauke Roth has been a member of the International Concert Hall Conference since 2017 and spokesperson for the Dresden Intendantenrunde since 2018.
She lectures on orchestra management and is a sought-after discussion partner on the podiums of cultural policy and management.
Frauke Roth lives in Dresden with her family