Olivier Cuendet was born in Lausanne. Following organ and directing studies in Switzerland, Olivier Cuendet completed his studies in Italy and the United States with the masters Igor Markevitch, Franco Ferrara, Seiji Ozawa, Rafael Kubelik and Leonard Bernstein.
In 1983 he won the N.Malko competition for orchestra directors, since which he has regularly conducted across Europe. From 1992 to 1995 he was the artistic director and principal conductor of the orchestra Västeras Sinfonietta in Sweden and from 1995 to 1998 of the Orchestre de Caen in France. He has worked together with such soloists as Maria-Joao Pirès, James Bowmann, Thomas Zehetmaier and Uri Caine.
From 1998 to 2001 Olivier Cuendet was the head of the 'Conservatoire de Lausanne' and initiated its transition to the 'Haute Ecole de Musique' (Music University). Within this framework he founded the 'Atelier Lyrique de Lausanne' in 1999, for the training of opera singers. From 2003 to 2006 he coordinated the department of singing at the 'Coservatoire de Musique' in Geneva.
His concert repertoire extends from Baroque music to contemporary music, and includes the classic and romantic periods as well as the classics of the 20th century. He has conducted many world premiers by composers like Gyorgy Kurtág, Franco Donatoni, Olga Neuwirth, Pascal Dusapin or Heinz Holliger. He has also composed several pieces for ensemble.
As far as his career at the opera is concerned, he had his debut in 1980 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, where he directed a production of 'Giselle' with Rudolf Nurejev. Since then he has conducted in France, Sweden, Spain, South Africa and Switzerland including numerous ballets and operas stretching from Monteverdi to contemporary music.
After his brilliant debuts in South America, South Africa and Russia, Olivier Cuendet is now a regular director of concerts and operas in many parts of the world.
Work list
Llum (2003)
Instrumentation: for choir, percussion and oboe (or trumpet)
Duration: 1' 15" Manuscript
As (2003)
Instrumentation: for clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello and guitar
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Etude pour un portrait (2004)
Instrumentation: for flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, voice, violine, viola, violoncello and percussion
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Couleur gris (2005)
Instrumentation: for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano, 2 violins, viola and violoncello
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
... toute frelore... (2010)
Instrumentation: for voice, flute, clarinet (bass clarinet), piano, melodica, violin and violoncello
oeuvre basée sur deux textes de Leonardo da Vinci; conçue pour pouvoir être jouée sans chef; écriture traditionnelle et graphique.
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Repertory
Rico Gubler: KOR for string quartet, tenor saxophone, percussion, bass clarinet and double-bass
Heinz Holliger: Ma'mounia for percussion solo and instrumental quintet (piccolo/flute/alto flute - clarinet in B/bass clarinet - horn in F - violoncello - piano)
Heinz Holliger: Puneigä for soprano, flute, clarinet, horn, viola, violoncello and percussion (with cimbalum)