Anna Handler
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Cover Feature
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Discover Germany, Switzerland & Austria
ANNA HANDLER – ORCHESTRATING THE FUTURE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC Munich-raised conductor Anna Handler has already conducted some of the world’s best orchestras at her young age. In the 2025/2026 season, the 29-year-old will also take over the prestigious Kapellmeisterin role at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In our interview, the classical music star reveals how she got into conducting, explains how to instil fascination of classical music in younger generations, and more. TEXT: NANE STEINHOFF
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PHOTOS: PETER RIGAUD
What transforms a conductor into a magnetic force – someone capable of drawing the collective focus of a hundred musicians, an audience of thousands, and the gaze of the entire classical world? The answer, as revealed through the thoughtful reflections of Anna Handler, lies at the crossroads of deep-rooted passion, fearless ambition, and an unwavering belief in music’s power to connect. Anna Handler, the 29-year-old GermanColombian conductor and pianist, is a name on the lips of orchestras from Munich to Boston, Salzburg to Los Angeles. Her story is marked by early immersion, relentless curiosity, and an openness that resonates as much on the podium as in conversation. In the 2025/2026 season, Anna will take over the prestigious role of the Kapellmeisterin at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, conducting 11 opera performances in her first year. This appointment is yet another one in a flourishing symphony of achievements, including recent debuts at Salzburg Festival, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, and upcoming
collaborations with some of the world’s most renowned ensembles. “My love of music was never a conscious decision – it was simply there,” reveals Anna Handler. “As a child, I sang a lot with my parents, grandparents, and my sister – German and Colombian folk songs. We would play the piano and violin for hours, immersing ourselves in worlds that touched me deeply. Music was my refuge, but also my playground.” And it is still today for the conductor and pianist, who had her debut at Salzburg Festival in 2022. THE PATH TO THE WORLD STAGE At an early age, Handler started to play piano, but her wish to create music in a larger space, together with other people, later led her to conducting at the age of 15. She studied in Germany, Italy and New York City’s esteemed Juilliard School, where she completed her master’s degree in conducting. Here, she was the first conductor ever to receive the prestigious Kovner Fellowship. She remembers: “It was a puzzle of encounters,
curiosity, and an inner need to connect with other musicians through movement. For me, becoming a conductor meant opening myself completely and expressing my feelings with my whole being, trusting my inner voice, and taking responsibility for sound, atmosphere, and people.” Juilliard, Handler says, was transformative. “Juilliard was the place of my dreams – intense, supportive, inspiring. I grew wings there, thanks to the belief that others placed in me. I met incredible mentors and companions, who helped me develop not only as a musician but as a person. The university encouraged me to think big and feel deeply. It was the best period of study in my life.” This period of growth was also marked by resilience. The COVID-19 shutdown imposed an unexpected stillness, but Handler made it her time for reflection and renewal. “It was a painful period for everyone, but it became important for me. I used it productively to learn, read, write, and practice. I asked myself: Why do I do this? What is my inner drive? This clarity still helps me set priorities and not get lost in external expectations.” She continues: “I've learned that creativity doesn't depend on external factors. That silence can be fruitful. And how important peace and quiet is for learning. I'm an artist even without the stage, and I know my why.” September 2025
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Issue 13 3
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