Ion Marin (born 8 July 1960) is a Romanian-Austrian conductor. He is internationally renowned both in operatic and symphonic domains.

Early life

Born in Bucharest, son of choir conductor Constantin Marin, founder of the Madrigal Choir, Ion Marin started studying piano and violin at the age of three. He graduated the George Enescu Music College in 1979. In 1983 he graduated in composition at the National Music Academy of Bucharest, where he studied with Tiberiu Olah and Anatol Vieru. His education was completed at the Salzburg Mozarteum with Carlo Zecchi and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena with Franco Ferrara. Following his debut in 1981, he was appointed chief conductor of the Arad Philharmonic (Transylvania). He founded the Transylvania Chamber Orchestra that he toured in France and Italy in 1983 and 1985. Between 1982 and 1985 he guest conducted most of Romanian orchestras as well as orchestras in Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union. In 1986 Marin received the Gottfried von Herder Preis-Stipendium of the Vienna University. He sought political asylum in Austria and was condemned in absence by the Romanian Ceausescu regime. He returned to conduct in Romania in 2007.

Career

In May 1987 Marin conducted Berg's Wozzeck at the Vienna State Opera and was hired by Claudio Abbado as his assistant conductor. In February 1988 he made his official debut with Maria Stuarda (Gruberova, Baltsa, Araiza) and became resident conductor under Abbado's tenure as music director. Until 1991 he conducted at the Vienna State Opera a large repertoire from Mozart to Alban Berg. In Vienna he collaborated with some of the world's greatest singers: Luciano Pavarotti (Un ballo in maschera), José Carreras (Carmen), Thomas Hampson, Gundula Janowitz, Hermann Prey (Le nozze di Figaro), Ruggero Raimondi, Agnes Baltsa (L'italiana in Algeri), Hildegard Behrens (Wozzeck), Éva Marton (Elektra), Giuseppe Taddei (L'elisir d'amore). In 1988 he received the Austrian citizenship by presidential decree, for special contribution to the Republic of Austria. He was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of Merit by the President of Romania in 2019. Starting with the academic year 2020/2021, Ion Marin has been appointed as Endowed Professor of the Claudio Abbado Chair for conducting by the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. He is also the Artistic Director of the University's symphonic activities. In January 2021, Ion Marin was awarded by the French Government the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

Opera activity – highlights

Since 1988, Marin conducted in major opera houses around the world. New productions highlights:

Symphonic concerts – highlights

Without ever pursuing permanent positions, Marin guest conducting activity include: Festival appearances between 1993 and 1996 include: Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Orchestre de Paris.

Discography

Marin's discography earned him three Grammy Award nominations (1992, 1993, 1994), a Diapason d'Or (1992) and the Echo Klassik Award (2012).

Social involvement

In 2011, Marin created in Romania the Cantus Mundi project, a social integration initiative based on choral singing and aiming to overcome all sorts of discrimination, by bringing together Romania's children, rich and poor, motion handicapped, ethnic minorities, blind, autistic and orphans. In 2014, by Governmental decision, Cantus Mundi became a National Program and is implemented throughout the country. It aims to reach 250,000 children over the next three years. The complementary part of the project, Symphonia Mundi, based on instrumental group playing has been launched in 2016.