The Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Stéphane Denève (Music Director)

Walter Weller Conductor Emeritus

Walter Weller was born in Vienna and became a member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of seventeen. The following year he founded the Weller Quartet, which became famous internationally during its ten year existence and made many distinguished recordings.

In 1961 Walter Weller became first Konzertmeister of the Vienna Philharmonic and in 1966 made his debut as a conductor. Walter Weller was Musical Director and Principal Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra between January 1992 and July 1997, and is now Conductor Emeritus.

Together, they made extremely successful tours of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a return visit to Austria in October this year was hailed as "Triumphant" (Sunday Times), "Vintage Weller" (Scotsman), and "Glorious, glittering, magnetic" (The Herald). From 1994 to 1997 Walter Weller was Artistic Director of the Allgemeine Musikgesellschaft Basel, General Music Director of the Basel Theatre and Chief Conductor of the Basel Symphony Orchestra.

He also holds the title of Artistic Advisor and Principal Guest Conductor of the National Orchestra of Spain. Mr Weller's operatic engagements have included Der Fliegende Hollander at La Scala, Ariadne auf Naxos and Der Fliegende Hollander for English National Opera, a new production of Der Freischutz at Teatro Comunale, Bologna, a new production of Prince Igor for Berlin Staatskapelle, and Fidelio and Der Rosenkavalier for Scottish Opera. He has also undertaken concert performances at the Tivoli Festival in Copenhagen of Elektra, Tristan and Isolde, Tannhauser and most recently Salome.

In his opening season with Basel, he conducted a highly successful production of Die Frau ohne Schatten. During the 1998/99 season he conducted concert performances of Fidelio with City of Birmingham Symphony and Eugene Onegin in Copenhagen.