Teodor Currentzis (Теодор Курентзис) is one of the most original figures in contemporary classical music. Born in Athens on 24 February 1972, he began studying the piano at an early age before taking up the violin at the National Conservatory of Athens, and later turned to composition and orchestral conducting. Eager to train under the greatest Russian masters, he moved to St Petersburg in 1994, where he studied conducting at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory under the legendary teacher Ilya Musin, who also trained Valery Gergiev and Semyon Bychkov.
After completing his studies, Currentzis began his career in Russia and, in 2004, was appointed Music Director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. There he founded the musicAeterna orchestra and choir, an ensemble that quickly gained international recognition for its artistic excellence and its innovative approach to the repertoire, ranging from Baroque music to contemporary works. In 2011, he transferred musicAeterna to the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, transforming this regional institution into one of Russia's most dynamic musical centres.
His conducting style, marked by exceptional intensity, is characterized by meticulous attention to orchestral colours, dynamic contrasts and musical dramaturgy. His interpretations of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Beethoven, Stravinsky and Rameau have attracted both enthusiastic acclaim and lively debate, as they often depart from established traditions. His numerous recordings have received several international awards.
Highly sought after on the world's leading stages, he has conducted at the Paris Opera, La Scala in Milan, the Teatro Real in Madrid, Zurich Opera, the Bolshoi Theatre, as well as in many of Europe's most prestigious concert halls. From 2018 to 2024, he served as Chief Conductor of the SWR Symphony Orchestra in Germany. In 2022, he founded Utopia, an orchestra bringing together musicians from many countries to develop new international artistic projects.
Having become a Russian citizen in 2014 while retaining his Greek nationality, Teodor Currentzis is now regarded as one of the most influential conductors of his generation. A perfectionist and charismatic artist, he seeks to redefine the relationship between performers, musical works and audiences, turning each of his concerts into a deeply personal musical experience.
Although his career has been devoted primarily to conducting and opera, Teodor Currentzis has also developed close ties with cinema. He plays the leading role of the physicist Lev Landau in Ilya Khrzhanovsky's vast film project DAU (2018–2026). In particular, he appears in the final film of the project, Dau (2026), selected for the main competition of the 2026 Venice International Film Festival. He is also currently appearing in the film that Alexander Sokurov is making, inspired by his recent interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony.
