Asher Fisch

Making music with equal ease and command in the opera and symphonic worlds, Asher Fisch conducts a broad repertoire from Gluck to 21st century premieres, with a special command and following for German Romantic and post-Romantic repertoire. Fisch is the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) since 2014, and from the 24/25 Season is also the music director of the Tyrolean Festival Erl in Austria. He was previously music director of the New Israeli Opera (1998–2008) and Wiener Volksoper (1995–2005) and was principal guest conductor of the Seattle Opera (2007–2013).

In addition to performances with WASO, in the 25/26 Season Fisch guest conducts the Milwaukee Symphony and Düsseldorf Symphony in concert, and returns to the Royal Danish Opera to lead Barrie Kosky’s production of Dialogues des Carmélites, as well as to the Vienna State Opera for Carmen. Other opera productions include Lucia di Lammermoor, Parsifal, and Der Fliegende Holländer in Erl.

Born in Israel, Asher Fisch began his conducting career as Daniel Barenboim’s assistant and kappellmeister at the Berlin Staatsoper. He has built his versatile repertoire at the major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, Bayerische Staatsoper, and Semperoper Dresden. Fisch has conducted at leading American ymphony orchestras including those of Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, and Philadelphia. In Europe, he has appeared at the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and the Orchestre National de France, among others.

Fisch’s recent engagements included Ariadne auf Naxos with the Israeli Opera, La bohème, Parsifal, and the “Verdi trilogy” of Rigoletto, ll trovatore, and La traviata in Erl, the Spain premiere of Aribert Reimann’s Lear at Teatro Real de Madrid, Carmen at Wiener Staatsoper, Lohengrin and La forza del destino at Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and Tannhäuser at Opera Australia, as well as orchestral performances with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Sydney, Queensland, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras in the Oceania region; and Indianapolis, Kansas City, Oregon, and Seattle Symphony Orchestras in North America.

Fisch’s award-winning discography includes Bruckner’s Symphony No.8, Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, and tenor Stuart Skelton’s debut solo album Shining Knight, all recorded with WASO. His critically acclaimed releases also feature Ravel’s L’Heure Espagnole with the Munich Radio Orchestra and the complete Brahms symphonies with WASO, released on ABC Classic. His two recordings of Wagner’s Ring cycle — with the Seattle Opera and the State Opera of South Australia — garnered widespread acclaim, with the latter winning ten Helpmann Awards, including Best Opera and Best Music Direction.

In addition to his conducting achievements, Fisch is an accomplished pianist. His solo recording of Wagner piano transcriptions for the Melba label showcases his versatility and artistry.

Asher Fisch appears courtesy of Wesfarmers Arts.