Aziz Shokhakimov

Biography

Kapellmeister Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Chief Conductor National Symphony Orchestra Uzbekistan
Principal Guest Conductor La Verdi Orchestra, Milan
Artistic Director of Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra

The remarkable young conductor Aziz Shokhakimov burst on the scene at the age of just 21 by astounding audiences in Bamberg, where he was awarded second prize at the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition under the auspices of the Bamberger Symphoniker. He has since accepted invitations to conduct at distinguished international venues.

Following the competition, Aziz Shokhakimov made triumphant debuts with Staatskapelle Dresden, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, SWR Sinfonieorchester, HR-Sinfonieorchester, Dresdner Philharmoniker, Deutsches Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Tonkünstlerorchester Niederösterreich, Tiroler Sinfonieorchester, Orchestra Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, London Philharmonic Orchestra; in Italy with Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Orchestra Filarmonica della Fenice and RAI Torino; in Poland with the highly acclaimed Sinfonia Varsovia; in the USA with Oregon, Pacific and Houston Symphony Orchestras and in Japan with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.

Recognition came very early for Aziz Shokhakimov. Born in 1988 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Shokhakimov entered Uspensky Music School for Gifted Children at the age of 6, studying violin, viola and orchestral conducting (class of professor Vladimir Neymer). At 13 he made his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, con- ducting Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Liszt’s First Piano Concerto. During the following year he conducted his first opera, Carmen, at the National Opera of Uzbekistan. Aziz Shokhakimov was appointed Assistant conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan in 2001 and became its Principal Conductor in 2006.

Next to his symphonic career Aziz Shokhakimov is also active in the field of opera. In 2013/14 he directed Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at the Teatro Communale di Bologna. At Deutsche Oper am Rhein he conducted a revival of Carmen after which he was engaged as Kapellmeister, starting in 2015/16. Aida, Hoffmanns Erzählungen, Rigoletto, Der fliegende Holländer and a highly-acclaimed new production of Madame Butterfly have followed since.

Having been selected from more than 100 candidates for the finals weekend with the Camerata Salzburg, Aziz Shokhakimov went on to win the prestigious Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award in August 2016. He returned to the Salzburg Festival in August 2017 for the prize-winner’s concert with RSO Wien enthusing the audience: »It’s astounding how the passion of conducting is controlled and still noticeably lead, better: moved by the emotions triggered through music«. (Salzburger Nachrichten)