David Robertson: Chief Conductor designate

David Robertson, credit Henry Grossman

David Robertson will take up the position of Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Sydney Symphony for a period of five years, commencing with the Orchestra's 2014 season.

David Robertson made his Australian debut with the Sydney Symphony in 2003 and since then has made regular visits to the orchestra, where his projects have included conceptual multi-media concerts such as The Colour of Time in 2008 and the Australian premiere of John Adams' Doctor Atomic Symphony. He begins his tenure as Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony in 2014.

He has been Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony since 2005 and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2005. He has previously held titled positions with the Orchestre National de Lyon (Music Director, 2000-2004), Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris (Music Director, 1992-2000) and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (Resident Conductor, 1985-1987). One of his early supporters was composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, Honorary President of Ensemble Intercontemporain.

David Robertson is a frequent guest conductor with major orchestras and opera houses around the world, and in the 2012-2013 season he will appear with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and at the Metropolitan Opera, and in Europe with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic and Ensemble Intercontemporain. This September he also tours Europe with the SLSO and violinist Christian Tetzlaff.

He is a champion of young musicians, and has devoted time to working with students and young artists throughout his career. In addition to creating and leading outreach programs with the Ensemble Intercontemporain and the Orchestre National de Lyon, he has worked with students at Carnegie Hall's Academy, the Paris Conservatoire, the Juilliard School, Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festival.

David Robertson was born in Santa Monica, California and educated at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied French horn and composition before turning to orchestral conducting. He is married to pianist Orli Shaham.

 

David Robertson conducts the SSO

Our Chief Conductor and Artistic Director designate, David Robertson, conducts Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6, Pathétique at the Sydney Opera House.

View

 

David Robertson speaks
David Robertson speaks

Hear why David Robertson accepted the appointment and what exciting projects he will undertake with the orchestra from 2014 onwards.

Play
We're honoured that David has agreed to join us on our musical journey together… He is an exceptional musician - highly intelligent, articulate and a wonderful communicator.
Dene Olding, Concertmaster