16 Facts About Alexander Briger

Alexander Briger AO was born on 1969 and is an Australian classical conductor.

Alexander Briger is the nephew of the conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, and both are descended from the composer Isaac Nathan and Count Felix Sumarokov-Elston.

Alexander Briger was inspired to become a conductor at age 12, when he saw another uncle, Sir Charles Mackerras, conduct the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Mahler's Fourth Symphony.

Alexander Briger left Grammar in 1987, then continued his violin studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Alexander Briger won first prize at the International Competition for Conductors in the Czech Republic in 1993.

Alexander Briger won the right to study under Pierre Boulez at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2000.

Alexander Briger has since worked extensively with Boulez and with Sir Charles Mackerras.

Alexander Briger appeared at the BBC Proms and the Berlin Festival with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group that year.

Alexander Briger was invited to take the London Philharmonic Orchestra on a tour of China in 2004.

Alexander Briger conducted Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Glyndebourne Festival.

Alexander Briger has led La boheme and Carmen for the State Opera of South Australia.

Alexander Briger conducted Don John of Austria, Australia's first opera, written by his great-great-great-great grandfather Isaac Nathan, in its first performance since Nathan's time.

Alexander Briger is currently Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Australian World Orchestra.

In 2016 Alexander Briger was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia "for services to the arts as a leading international conductor and founder of the AWO".

Alexander Briger's wife, Caroline Meng, is a French mezzo-soprano, and they have one daughter, Charlotte.

Alexander Briger has three daughters from a previous marriage, Claudia, Sofia and Scarlett.