Meet the Musicians

Andris Nelsons
Music Director - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra 

“The greatest and brightest hope on the international conductor’s scene. The 30-year-old Latvian is a paragon of musicality.”
Der Tagesspiegel

nullAndris Nelsons is the music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. While still in the early stages of an international career, this achievement in particular has already distinguished his name as one of the most sought-after young conductors today.

Over the next few seasons he will continue collaborations with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Orchestre National de France, Pittsburgh Symphony, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and Oslo Philharmonic. Debut appearances will include the Philharmonia Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the Musikverein, Staatskapelle Dresden, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, London Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Last summer also saw his debut at the Salzburg Festival.

Andris Nelsons made a highly successful debut at the Vienna State Opera with Pique Dame last season, later returning for Tosca and Madame Butterfly. Operatic debuts in the 2009/2010 season include the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera New York (Turandot) and, this summer, he will appear for the first time at the Bayreuther Festspiele as Musical Director for Lohengrin, in a new production directed by Hans Neuenfels.

Nelsons enjoyed a critically acclaimed first season in Birmingham, The Independent writing:

"The Nelsons era with the CBSO promises to be exhilarating, his concerts unmissable".

His second season has been equally well-received by audiences and critics alike.

"Andris Nelsons dynamic performances of Richard Strauss with the CBSO have been one of the strongest indicators of his exceptional gifts as a conductor."
The Guardian

"In his second season as the CBSO's chief, Nelsons continues to be a complete magician, conjuring passionate yet elegant performances through solid musicianship, delicate hand gestures, flexible knees, and a star's charisma."
The Times

Summer 2009 saw Nelsons and the CBSO appear at the BBC Proms, Lucerne Festival and Berliner Festspiele. They will undertake a major European tour in March, and have begun an exciting collaboration with Orfeo International. Their first eagerly anticipated CD of Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and Hamlet Overture was released in spring 2009 and was subsequently recognised with a Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, as was his disc of Beethoven/Berg Violin Concertos with the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and Arabella Steinbacher, also released in 2009. Nelsons's second CD with the CBSO, of Strauss's Rosenkavalier Suite and Ein Heldenleben was recently released, receiving the highest praise in the press.

"These live Strauss pieces explain why the young Latvian is making such a striking impact on music-lovers in Birmingham."
The Times

Born in Riga in 1978 into a family of musicians, Andris Nelsons began his career in music as a trumpeter in the Latvian National Opera Orchestra and has also won many prizes for his singing. He was recipient of the prestigious Latvian Grand Music Award for outstanding achievement in music in 2001 and, after graduating in the same year, he went to St. Petersburg to study conducting with Professor Alexander Titov. He has been studying privately with Mariss Jansons since 2002 and recently completed his tenure as Principal Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in Herford, Germany. From 2003-2007 he was Music Director of the Latvian National Opera.

For more information about Andris Nelsons please click on the links below.

'Arrival of a Maestro' - Exclusive Video Documentary - Watch Online

CBSO Podcast - Andris Nelsons - The Interview

What the papers say...

What the audience say...

What the players say...

Andris Nelsons - the man behind the podium (BBC)

CBSO News Article - A new Music Director for the CBSO

CBSO Press Release - New CBSO Music Director Gives Spice Girls a Run for their Money 

CBSO Press Release - Andris Nelsons Announced as CBSO Music Director

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