Prof. Claus Unzen

  • Born 1957 in Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Double bass studies (Prof. Walter Meuter, Prof. Dieter Eschmann) and theory/composition studies (Hans-Georg Lotz) at Detmold and Hamburg Universities of Music as well as the Hamburg Conservatory
  • Subsequent studies in music theater direction with Prof. Götz Friedrich at Hamburg University of Music and Theatre and University of Hamburg
  • From 1979 to 1984, member of the European Community Youth Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Europe with concerts at international European festivals including Salzburg Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Lucerne Festival and Athens Festival
  • From 1980 to 1984, assistant musician at Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg for concerts and operas
  • Dramaturge and Director at Hamburg State Opera under the direction of Rolf Liebermann (1985-1988) and Peter Ruzicka (1988-1991), intensive engagement with works of new music
  • From 1990 to 1993, Director and Author in the managing team with “Festivades à Loudenvielle“ Hautes-Pyrénées, France and from 1991 to 1993, Director and Leading Dramaturge at the Music Theater Stage of the Hansestadt Lübeck
  • From 1999 to 2001, Cofounder as well as Artistic and Scenic Director with Potsdamer Schlössernacht
  • Since 1990, director at various theaters and festivals including Opernhaus Teresa Carreno in Carracas, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Schlosstheater Rheinsberg, Schlosstheater Schwetzingen, tour productions in Holland and Belgium, contracts for opera, operetta, musicals and projects for corporations such as Mobil Oil AG, Wingas AG, Bayer AG und BASF
  • From 1986 to 2008, teaching assignments at Universities of Music in Hamburg, Lübeck, and Detmold as well as at University of Fine Arts of Hamburg
  • Since 2008, performance and audition training at the opera studio of Komische Oper Berlin and Berlin State Opera, teacher for Theater and Opera History in the Master of “Bühnenbild_Szenischer Raum” at Technical University Berlin
  • Since 1994, teacher and Guest Professor for Music Theater Direction and Head of Course in Music Theater Direction at Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, since 2013, fulltime Professor of Music Theater Direction
  • Since 2003, initiation and implementation of cooperations such as the 'K.O. Projects' with Komische Oper Berlin, the HAU (Hebbel am Ufer) and the stage design course at Berlin University for the Arts; the 'Wagner Operas for Children' in cooperation with Bayreuther Festspiele, internships and student productions at the Werkstattbühne of Staatsoper Berlin at Schillertheater and the world premiere of 'Neue Szenen' at the Tischlerei venue of Deutsche Oper Berlin

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