Mark Shanahan is an opera and orchestral conductor whose work moves between Europe’s great houses, from English National Opera to Oper Frankfurt and La Fenice, and the concert platforms of London.
In recent seasons he has conducted the world premiere of Sir John Tavener’s Krishna and Tchaikovsky’s Mazeppa for Grange Park Opera, alongside his work as Artistic Director of the Forest Philharmonic Orchestra and guest engagements across Europe.
To conduct is to shape time — to make movement audible.
Biography
A conductor of dramatic instinct and refined detail, Mark Shanahan has been closely associated with English National Opera, where his productions have included Otello, La bohème, The Barber of Seville, The Force of Destiny, Ernani and Tosca. For Opera North he has conducted Rigoletto and La traviata, and he has appeared for Opera Ireland, the Wexford Festival and Grange Park Opera.
His French debut came in 2007 with Angers-Nantes Opéra’s acclaimed Jenůfa, awarded the Prix Claude Rostand. He returned for Così fan tutte, The Rape of Lucretia and The Makropulos Case, and has since led La bohème, La clemenza di Tito and Le nozze di Figaro in Marseille, Jenůfa in Lille and Kát’a Kabanová in Nancy.
Internationally he has conducted Tosca, Death in Venice, Nabucco, Simon Boccanegra and Adriana Lecouvreur for Oper Frankfurt, The Mikado at La Fenice, Venice, and La traviata for Nationale Reisopera in Holland.
On the concert platform he has appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall in repertoire ranging from Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust and Verdi’s Requiem to Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben.
Born in Manchester of Irish parentage, he trained at Chetham’s School of Music and, as the Sir Henry Wood Conducting Scholar, at the Royal Academy of Music, winning first prize at the inaugural NAYO Conducting Competition while still a student.
Selected repertoire
Press
Full of dramatic energy, always refined and delicate — a pure pleasure.
“The recitatives are true musical theatre — impeccable from every point of view.”
“Well conducted by Mark Shanahan, who paces this complex and multi-faceted work with great assurance.”
“Conductor Mark Shanahan gets a splendid sound out of the orchestra — comfortable and well-rehearsed.”
Appointments & teaching
A dedicated teacher of the next generation of conductors.
Alongside his conducting, Mark Shanahan mentors emerging conductors through the conservatoires and through projects such as ERSO’s Behind the Baton, illuminating the craft of the podium for players and audiences alike.
Contact
20 rue Milton
F-75009 Paris, France