CRISTIAN LUPEȘ, conductor and cultural manager, is known for his restless and ever renewing activity, as a musician and creator of cultural projects. He is considered to be the most surprinsing Romanian conductor nowadays, due to his highly personal interpretations and brave choices of repertoire. His strong and charming personality (Cristian Mandeal, conductor) and his decisive spirit (Liviu Dănceacu, composer) provoque either admiration or controversy but never a dull feeling.
Born in Onești, Romania (1976), he first studies Physics and Chemistry at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and at Bucharest University. From 1999 he studies Orchestral Conducting at the National Music University in Bucharest. He continues his studies at Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, and in 2010 he becomes Assistant Conductor to Jonathan Nott at Bamberger Symphonikern Staatsphilharmonie. He will have the same role at: Tonhalle Zurich, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Rundfunk Berlin, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, while assisting conductors such as Cristian Mandeal, Alexandre Myrat, Seiji Ozawa, Zubin Mehta, David Zinman, Bernard Haitink, Mariss Jansons, Andris Nelsons, Vladimir Jurowski, Herbert Blomstedt. In 2012 he will get his PhD in Music, with his Thesis The Scientific Parameters of Orchestral Interpretation.
Cristian Lupeș always knew he would be a conductor. He grew up listenting to contemporary music and to the birds singing along Enescu’s music in Tescani. These moments are the keystones to his artistic activity: the attachment to Romanian music, especially that of George Enescu and the attraction towards the bravery, innovation and revolutionary spirit of contemporary music. In his activity, he always chooses to promote the modern and contemporary Romanian values, as he believes, just like Enescu has, in the importance of music for a healthy cultural life. With ability and confidence, he showcases to the public music that is rarely played on Romanian stages, only to find enthusiasm and joy in return.
His perseverence and his natural passion for music bring him a debut in a Season concert whilst being a student. He is a constant presence in George Enescu International Festival where he conducted various orchestras. His recordings of modern and contemporary music are considered referencial, thus being sent as a reference to the orchestras that take part in the Enescu Festival.
Cristian Lupeș collaborates with orchestras from Romania (National Radio Orchestra, Sibiu State Philharmonic, Iași Philarmonic, Timișoara Philharmonic, Bacău Philharmonic, Brașov Philharmonic, etc) and international orchestras (Île-de-France, Bern, Bamberg, Skopje, Grosseto, San Remo). His curiosity to experiment leads him to multidisciplinary collaborations with contempormporary music ensembles, directors, set designers, film makers, etc.
In 2019, Cristian Lupeș becomes the manager of Sibiu State Philharmonic and his vision improves the institution in a way no one would think possible. This effort is recongnised by a Medal of Honour in High Rank for Culture, awarded by E.S. Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania, in January 2021.
Cristian Lupeș is the artistic director of Romania’s first contemporary music festival – Contemporary Music Days, founded by his professor, composer Liviu Danceanu.
He collaborates with artists such as : Elisabeth Leonskaja, Michael Barenboim , Marcel Iureș, Vlad Zografi, Marius Manole, Grigore Leșe, Vlad Bîrzanu, Alexandru Tomescu, Horia Mihail, Răzvan Suma, Mihai Ritivoiu, Daniel Goiți, Mihai Ungureanu, Liliana Iorgulescu, Liviu Dănceanu, Mihaela Vosganian, Iulia Isaev, Antal Zalay, Dorel Baicu, Antonio di Cristofano, Andreas Frölich, Diana Jipa, Stefan Tarara.
