INTERVIEW
What was the first MCO concert you ever attended? It was a family concert in Dortmund in December 2010: Händel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, with Ton Koopman, Ralph Caspers and many happy, excited children.
What do you find exciting about the MCO? The fact that the MCO works like an international family. The coherence is unbelievably strong, despite – or probably because of – the diversity and the intensive work and time spent on tour. In addition, I’m really impressed by the passion evident in their performances. It’s simply wonderful to watch and listen to people who enjoy what they do so intensely.
The first piece of music you fell in love with: J. S. Bach’s cello suites.
What do you need in order to feel at home on tour? My bicycle.
What CD would you want with you on a desert island? Oscar Peterson: We Get Requests.
BIOGRAPHY
Alena Leuteritz first got to know the MCO in the autumn of 2010 during an internship, which was quickly followed by freelance work for the orchestra. She then worked primarily to secure support for the orchestra through private donors, and also became Assistant to Chief Executive Ole Bækhøj. Since 2015 she has been working as a Project Manager.
Alena knew she would end up in music when attending an artistic secondary school in Bamberg. She did not envision herself on stage, but rather found herself interested in how to plan and manage cultural events.
When she first met the MCO in October 2010, she was in the middle of her studies in Culture Management at the FH Potsdam. As soon as she connected with the MCO, she found her response to that commonly asked question “Culture management? What are you going to do with that?”. Her answer became immediately clear: be part of a dedicated, professional team that unifies an international family despite language barriers, and establishes the orchestra as a European ensemble through its many tours.
