Guest Artist Bio
Claus Peter Flor
Claus Peter Flor, music director of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, also works regularly with a number of orchestras internationally, including the Netherlands Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony and Singapore Symphony, as well as with major opera companies in Europe and the United States.
Born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1953, Flor studied violin in Weimar and Leipzig and subsequently studied conducting with Rolf Reuter, Rafael Kubelik and Kurt Sanderling. At the age of 31 he became general music director of the Berlin Symphony and began regular associations with the other major East German orchestras: the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Dresden Staatskapelle. In 1988 he made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic, where he has since returned twice.
Prior to his position as music director of the Malaysian Philharmonic, Flor held the position of principal guest conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi from 2003 to 2008 at the personal invitation of their music director, Riccardo Chailly. From 1999 to 2008 he was also principal guest conductor of the Dallas Symphony. In addition, he has served as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra (1991-94) and artistic advisor to the Zürich Tonhalle Orchestra (1991-96).
Flor has a large discography, including an acclaimed series of Mendelssohn recordings with the Bamberg Symphony, which have recently been re-issued by Sony/BMG. His most recent recording of Suk: Asrael Symphony with his own orchestra, the Malaysian Philharmonic, for BIS label was released earlier this year.