News and Reviews
News: sinfonia ViVA appoints new Principal Conductor
September 2007
Celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, sinfonia ViVA has announced the appointment of the dynamic Berlin-born conductor André de Ridder as its new Principal Conductor.
Peter Helps, Chief Executive of sinfonia ViVA explained the reasoning behind the appointment:
"Following his concerts with sinfonia ViVA last season it was obvious that André was a popular choice with musicians and audiences alike. What became clear in subsequent discussions was his insightful understanding of the challenges facing an orchestra at the beginning of the 21st century and how to develop the unique role sinfonia ViVA is carving out for itself in the orchestral landscape here in the UK. André brings with him a huge amount of experience and expertise of course, but also ambition for the partnership. In addition his vision for a chamber orchestra is an exciting one. A vision that will provide a challenge for us as an Orchestra and develop a concert-going experience that is second to none for our audiences – The ViVA Experience."
André de Ridder responded by saying:
"What struck me first when I encountered sinfonia ViVA was their wonderfully positive attitude and open-mindedness, allowing myself personal and musical 'space' - something I thrive on. They've built a very good group of musicians into an impressive ensemble who seem ready and raring to go interesting places, both artistically and geographically, and I am very excited to have been offered the chance to spearhead this journey."
De Ridder's first concert in his new role takes place on 23 October at the Assembly Rooms, Derby, when he conducts a typically adventurous programme of Sibelius' Third Symphony, Pelléas and Mélisande and his Suite Champêtre and Icelandic composer Haflidi Hallgrimsson's Cello Concerto with soloist and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Danjulo Ishizaka.
De Ridder comes to sinfonia ViVA garlanded with high praise for his dynamic conducting and with a remarkable track record in a vastly diverse range of Classical and Romantic repertoire and of new music. He was short listed in the Young Artists category in the Royal Philharmonic Society's awards in 2006, has appeared at the BBC Proms in 2006 and 2007 and recently gained international attention and plaudits for his conducting of the world premiere of Damon Albarn's and Jamie Hewlett's opera Monkey: Journey to the West for the Manchester International Festival. The opera will also take him to the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, and to Berlin's Staatsoper.
De Ridder's capacious and always open musical mind is well suited to the sinfonia ViVA philosophy of innovative diversity combined with approachability and a mission to enrich through de-mystification. With de Ridder's appointment, sinfonia ViVA is destined to become the nation's leading and most exciting chamber orchestra.
Media enquiries: Simon Millward at Albion Media, 020 7629 3252 simon@albion-media.co.uk
André de Ridder is represented by Konzertdirektion Schmid www.kdschmid.de
Read full biography (PDF document)
Photo credit: Marco Borggreve