Dennis Russell Davies
April 16, 1943 - Toledo, Ohio
© A. Balon
About
Dennis Russell Davies was born in Toledo (Ohio) and studied piano and conducting at the Juilliard School, New York. His activities as an opera and concert conductor, and as a pianist and chamber musician, are characterized by a very broad repertory stretching from the Baroque to the very modern. He is also noted for his exciting and well-structured concert programmes and for close working relationships with many composers.
After his first appointments as Musical Director of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (1972-1980) and as Chief Conductor of the American Composers Orchestras in New York (1977-2002), he moved to Europe (Germany and Austria). From 1980-1987 he was Music Director of the Staatsoper Stuttgart, from 1987 to 1995 Chief Conductor of the Beethovenhalle Orchestra and Music Director of the Bonn Opera as well as International Beethoven Festival.
Since 1995 Dennis Russell Davies has been chief conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. In Austria he was Chief Conductor of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1997-2002. Since 1997 he has also held a conducting professorship at the Salzburg Mozarteum and is at present chief Conductor of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz as well as Opera Director at the Landestheater Linz (since 2002). As a guest Davies has conducted among others many formations. After his début at the Bayreuth Festival (1978-1980) his opera work has included conducting at the Salzburg Festival, the Lincoln Center Festival New York, the Houston Grand Opera, the Hamburg and the Bavarian State Operas, with prestigious directors.