John Neschling

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1969

Genres

classical music, symphonic music, opera

Instruments

piano, conductor

Biography

John Neschling is a renowned Brazilian conductor and composer born in Rio de Janeiro on May 13, 1947. Coming from a distinguished musical heritage as a descendant of Arnold Schoenberg and Arthur Bodanzky, he began studying piano at an early age before pursuing conducting studies with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna and Leonard Bernstein in Tanglewood. Throughout his illustrious international career, Neschling has led numerous prestigious institutions globally, including the Municipal Theaters of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in Lisbon, and the Vienna State Opera, alongside collaborating with celebrated artists such as Plácido Domingo.

From 1997 to 2008, Neschling served as the artistic director and principal conductor of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (Osesp). Under his visionary leadership, the orchestra achieved international acclaim and recorded numerous acclaimed albums for the BIS and Biscoito Fino labels, earning prestigious accolades such as Latin Grammy and Diapason d'or awards. Furthermore, he was instrumental in transforming the historic Júlio Prestes railway station into the world-class Sala São Paulo concert hall. His tenure revolutionized symphonic music in Brazil through innovative projects, subscription models, and international tours.

In addition to his orchestral work, Neschling has composed significant scores for Brazilian cinema and television, contributing memorable music to classic films such as Pixote, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Gaijin. He later returned to direct the Municipal Theatre of São Paulo in 2013, continuing his lifelong mission to democratize access to opera and classical music. His profound impact on Brazilian classical music aligns him with other pivotal figures in the nation's orchestral tradition, such as Eleazar de Carvalho.

Discography

• Orquestra pro Arte de Graz / John Neschling – Compositores Brasilenos (1976)
• John Neschling / Nando Carneiro And Wally Badarou – Kiss Of The Spider Woman (Original Soundtrack With Music & Dialogue) (1985)
• Sérgio & Odair Assad, St Gallen Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Two Concertos For Two Guitars (1991)
• Gomes: Il Guarany (1995)
• Antônio Carlos Gomes - Plácido Domingo, Verónica Villarroel, Carlos Álvarez, Chor Und Extrachor Der Stadt Bonn, Orchester Der Beethovenhalle Bonn, John Neschling – Il Guarany (1996)
• Gaetano Donizetti - Mariella Devia, Octavio Arevalo, Boris Martinovich, John Neschling – Adelia (1999)
• Gustav Mahler - Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Sinfonia Nº 2 em Dó Menor "Ressurreição" (2000)
• Shilkret: Trombone Concerto / Hogberg: Trombone Concerto / Lindberg: Helikon Wasp (2000)
• Camargo Guarnieri, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 / Abertura Concertante (2002)
• Coelho, Lamosa, Carrara, Joll, Orquestra de São Paulo, John Neschling – Jupyra (2002)
• John Neschling & Ilan Rechtman – A Música Instrumental de Esperança (2002)
• Desmundo (2002)
• Braga: Cauchemar / Jupyra (2002)
• Guarnieri: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 / Abertura Concertante (2002)
• Camargo Guarnieri, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 - Abertura Festiva (2003)
• Guarnieri: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4 / Abertura Festiva (2003)
• Camargo Guarnieri, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra ~ John Neschling – Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 ~ Vila Rica Suite (2004)
• Guarnieri: Symphony No. 5 / Suite Vila Rica / Symphony No. 6 (2004)
• Francisco Mignone, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Maracatu de Chico Rei · Festa das Igrejas · Sinfonia Tropical (2005)
• Christian Lindberg plays Nathaniel Shilkret (2005)
• Beethoven: Sinfonias No. 5, Op. 67 e No. 7, Op. 92 (Ao Vivo) (2005)
• Rodrigo, Borne, Ibert - Sharon Bezaly, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Bridge Across The Pyrenees (2006)
• Claudio Santoro, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo & Coro, John Neschling – Sinfonias 4 & 9, Ponteio, Frevo (2006)
• Beethoven ‎– Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Sinfonias Nos 5 E 7 (2006)
• Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral / Ibert: Flute Concerto / Borne: Carmen Fantasy (2006)
• Santoro: Symphony Nos. 4 and 9 / Ponteio / Frevo (2006)
• Tchaikovsky ~ Medtner - Yevgeny Sudbin, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – First Piano Concertos (2007)
• Arnaldo Cohen, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling, Franz Liszt – Totentanz · Piano Concertos 1 & 2 (2007)
• OSESP/John Neschling - Banda Mantiqueira - Mônica Salmaso (2007)
• Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Tchaikovsky, John Neschling – Sinfonia N°1 (Sonhos de Inverno) - Romeo e Julieta (Abertura Fantasia) (2007)
• Camargo Guarnieri, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Synfonias 1 A 6 (2007)
• Liszt: Totentanz / Piano Concertos No. 1 and 2 (2007)
• Tchaikovsky; Piano Concerto No. 1 / Medtner: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Liebliches Kind! (2007)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos, Cristina Ortiz, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Choros Nos 5 · 7 · 11 (Volume 1) (2008)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Choros Nos 2 · 3 · 10 · 12 (Volume 3) (2008)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos / São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Choros Nos 1 · 4 · 6 · 8 · 9 (Volume 2) (2008)
• Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Sinfonia No 4 - Tchaikovsky - Capricho Italiano (2008)
• Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Brahms - Abertura Trágica, Sinfonia No. 1 (2008)
• Robert Schumann Schumann Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Sinfonia No. 01 - Sinfonia No. 03 (2008)
• Villa-Lobos, H.: Choros, Vol. 1 - Choros Nos. 5, 7, 11 (2008)
• Sharon Bezaly, Vadim Gluzman, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra & Choir, John Neschling – Remembrance (2009)
• Vadim Gluzman, Barber, Bernstein, Bloch, Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Serenade / Baal Shem / Concerto (2009)
• Tchaikovsky - Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Manfred (2009)
• Schumann - Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Sinfonia No. 02 - Sinfonia No. 04 (2009)
• Schoenberg, A.: Kol Nidre / Bernstein, L.: Halil / Bloch, E.: Baal Shem / Zeisl, E.: Requiem Ebraico (Remembrance) (2009)
• Schumann: Sinfonia No. 2 e Sinfonia No. 4 (2009)
• Villa-Lobos, H.: Choros, Vol. 3 - Choros Nos. 2, 3, 10, 12 / Introduction To the Choros / 2 Choros Bis (2009)
• Respighi, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Roman Trilogy (2010)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos, Anna Korondi, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra Choir, John Neschling – Floresta do Amazonas (2010)
• Francis Hime / Nelson Ayres - Concerto para Violão e Concertino para Percurssão (2010)
• Verdi, Daniela Dessì, Fabio Armiliato, Claudio Sgura, Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Parma, John Neschling – La Traviata (2010)
• Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Antonio Meneses, Cláudio Cruz, John Neschling - Dvořák, Bruch – Concerto para Violoncelo e Orquestra em Si Menor, Op.104 / Concerto Nº 1 para Violino e Orquestra em Sol Menor, Op.26 (2010)
• John Neschling, OSESP e Cláudio Cruz, Bruch e Tchaikovsky – Concertos para Violino e Orquestra (2010)
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, John Neschling, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Yan Pascal Tortelier – Sinfonia No. 06 - Patética - Abertura 1812 (2010)
• Respighi: Fontane di Roma - Pini di Roma - Feste romane (2010)
• Respighi: Orchestral Works (2010)
• Villa-lobos: Floresta do Amazonas (2010)
• Gluzman plays Barber, Bernstein and Bloch Concertos (2010)
• Hindemith, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, John Neschling – Nobilissima Visione / Mathis Der Maler / Metamorphosen (2011)
• John Neschling, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Ludwig van Beethoven – Sinfonia No. 03 em Mi Bemol Maior, Op. 55 - Eroica (2011)
• Tchaikovsky - Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Fabio Mechetti, John Neschling – Sinfonia No. 05 - A Tempestade (2011)
• Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Arnaldo Cohen, John Neschling, Yan Pascal Tortelier – Concertos para Piano Nº 2 E 4 (2011)
• Hime: Concerto para Violão e Orquestra - Ayres: Concertino para Percussão e Orquestra (2011)
• Tchaikovsky - Sinfonia No. 5 e "A Tempestade" (2011)
• Hindemith: Orchestral Works (2011)
• Verdi: La Traviata (2011)
• Respighi, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, John Neschling – Impressioni Brasiliane; La Boutique Fantasque (2014)
• Respighi: Impressioni brasiliane & La Boutique fantasque (2014)
• Respighi, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, John Neschling – Metamorphoseon / Ballata Delle Gnomidi / Belkis, Regina Di Saba (2015)
• Respighi: Metamorphoseon, P. 169, Ballata delle gnomidi, P. 124 & Belkis, regina di Saba, P. 177 (2015)
• Respighi, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, John Neschling – Sinfonia Drammatica; Belfagor Overture (2016)
• Respighi: Sinfonia drammatica, P.102 (2016)
• Respighi, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, John Neschling – Church Windows, Etc. (2017)
• Bizet: Carmen (Live) (2017)
• Respighi: Vetrate di chiesa, Il tramonto & Trittico botticelliano (2018)
• Gomes: Lo schiavo (Live) (2019)
• John Neschling, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège – Ottorino Respighi: Transcriptions Of Bach And Rachmaninov (2021)
• Respighi: Transcriptions of Bach & Rachmaninoff (2021)
• Respighi — Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, John Neschling – Gli Uccelli (The Birds) - Antiche Danze Ed Arie (Suites 1-3) (2023)
• Respighi: The Birds & Ancient Dances and Airs (2023)
• Dvořák e Bruch: Concerto para Violoncelo e Orquestra em Si Menor, Op. 104 e Concerto No. 1 para Violino e Orquestra em Sol Menor, Op. 26 (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• Tchaikovsky: Sinfonia No. 6 em Si Menor, Op. 74 - Patética & Abertura 1812, Op. 49 (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• Beethoven: Sinfonias No. 2, Op. 36 e No. 8, Op. 93 & Abertura Egmont, Op. 84 (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• Beethoven: Sinfonia No. 3, Op. 55 – Eroica & Rei Estêvão, Op. 117: Abertura (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• Beethoven: Sinfonias No. 1, Op. 21 e No. 4, Op. 60 & Abertura Coriolano, Op. 62 (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• Brahms: Sinfonia No. 3, Op. 90 & Abertura do Festival Acadêmico, Op. 80 (2025)
• Beethoven - Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Sinfonias N.º 1 E 4 / Abertura Coriolano
• Brahms, John Neschling, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo – Sinfonia No. 03 - Abertura do Festival Acadêmico
• Ludwig van Beethoven - John Neschling, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo – Sinfonias No. 2 E 8 - Abertura Egmont
• Beethoven - Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, John Neschling – Abertura a Consagração da Casa / Sinfonia Nº. 6 Pastoral