André de Ridder

André de Ridder has collaborated with artists and ensembles as diverse as the Philharmonia Orchestra, award-winning cartoon band Gorillaz, jazz musician Uri Caine and MusikFabrik. He is in his fifth seasons as Principal Conductor of the UK-based Sinfonia ViVA, and his programmes with the orchestra are typically rich in innovation. His passion for the development of contemporary music has contributed to his position as one of today's most fascinating and versatile conductors.   De Ridder works with such orchestras as BBC Symphony, Britten Sinfonia, Hallé Orchestra,Trondheim Symphony, Residentie Orkest Den Haag, Tapiola Sinfonietta, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto and Camerata Salzburg. These have led to many reinvitations in future seasons.   He has become especially known for his bold programming and blurring of traditions; last season he appeared at the Kölner Philharmonie and London’s Barbican Centre with electronica duo Mouse on Mars and Musikfabrik, following their initial collaboration on Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW series. His regular presence at the Barbican saw him perform at their Steve Reich festival 2011 with BBC Symphony Orchestra, with British band These New   Puritans and, most recently, premiering works by Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli and Owen Pallett with Britten Sinfonia.   Highlights of the 2012/13 season include a return to the Hallé, a tour with Danish band Efterklang and Northern Sinfonia, and appearances with Copenhagen Philharmonic in his role as Artistic Advisor of their groundbreaking “60 Minutes” series. He appears regularly at international festivals, including BBC Proms, where he returns in 2012, Manchester International Festival, Venice Biennale and Sydney Festival, where he is Artist in Residence in 2013. His regular collaboration at the Holland Festival saw him appear in 2012 with Amsterdam Sinfonietta, for works by Bryce Dessner and Jonny Greenwood, and with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra for live performance of the music from “2001: A Space Odyssey” alongside the film.   De Ridder performs opera at venues including English National Opera, Teatro Real, Theater Basel, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and Salzburg Festival, conducting works by composers as diverse as Henze, Janacek, Wolfgang Rihm and Mozart. This season, he undertakes an extensive project at Berlin’s Komische Oper, performing three Monteverdi operas reworked by Elena Kats-Chernin. De Ridder conducted and orchestrated Damon Albarn’s music theatre pieces, Monkey: Journey to the West and Dr Dee; a recording of Dr Dee is released this season on EMI.   André de Ridder studied at the Music Academies of Vienna and London, under Leopold Hager and Sir Colin Davis. He was Young Conductor in Association with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and also held the position of Assistant Conductor at the Hallé Orchestra, 2005-2006.   Season 2012/13