Michael Sanderling has served as Chief Conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra since 2021. His appointment followed a long-standing, successful collaboration, with the shared aim of further developing the orchestra’s focus on late Romantic repertoire, including works by Bruckner, Mahler, and Strauss.
Under his leadership, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra has embarked on tours across Asia, South America, and Europe. A highlight was their performance of Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony at the Vienna Konzerthaus, accompanied by William Kentridge’s animated film "Oh to Believe in Another World". This impressive production was first premiered at the KKL Lucerne and the Pompeii Theatrum Mundi Festival, and was later presented again at the MiTo Festival in Milan and at the Philharmonie de Paris.
Since the beginning of his tenure, several acclaimed recordings have been released, notably a Brahms cycle in 2023 with Warner Classics, featuring the four symphonies and the piano quartet orchestrated by Arnold Schoenberg. Additionally, recordings of Mozart’s and Fazıl Say’s Requiems with the Berlin Radio Choir have been produced.
As a guest conductor, Michael Sanderling leads renowned orchestras worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra London, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
From 2011 to 2019, he was Chief Conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic, elevating the orchestra’s profile through performances in Dresden and on international tours. During this period, he recorded the complete symphonies of Beethoven and Shostakovich for Sony Classical. Prior to this, he served as Chief Conductor of the Kammerakademie Potsdam from 2006 to 2011.
In addition to the recordings mentioned above, Michael Sanderling’s extensive discography includes recordings of major works by Dvořák, Schumann, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky, as well as works for cello and orchestra by Bloch, Korngold, Bruch and Ravel with Edgar Moreau and the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester.
In 2011, he conducted a new production of Sergei Prokofiev’s "War and Peace" at the Cologne Opera, earning him the title of Conductor of the Year from Opernwelt magazine.
Michael Sanderling is deeply committed to nurturing young musical talent. He teaches at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts and collaborates regularly with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. From 2003 to 2013, he was Chief Conductor of the Deutsche Streicherphilharmonie.