Conductor David Robertson has established himself as one of today's most sought after conductors, recognized for his consummate musicianship, dynamic presence and imaginative programming, which has charmed musicians and audiences worldwide. Combining passion and intellect with an extensive knowledge of orchestral and operatic repertoire, he has been hailed as much for his technical and interpretive mastery as for his versatility. Fall 2007 finds Mr. Robertson embarking on his third season as Music Director of the 128-year-old Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, while continuing as Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, a post to which he was appointed in 2005.
Highlights of David Robertson's 2007-08 guest engagements include a residency with the Los Angeles Philharmonic entitled Concrete Frequency, featuring three separate programs, including the world premiere of a new work by Michael Gordon and Bill Morrison (January 2008). Additional U.S. guest appearances include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera. Internationally, in addition to his commitments with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Robertson appears as a guest conductor with the Tonhalle Orchestra, Swedish Radio Orchestra and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
In February 2008, Mr. Robertson brings the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra to Carnegie Hall for two concerts, featuring the New York premiere of John Adams's Doctor Atomic Symphony, a Carnegie Hall, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and BBC co-commission, alongside works by Messiaen, Brahms and Berg.
Prior to his Saint Louis Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestra appointments, Mr. Robertson held several posts abroad. He was the first artist ever to simultaneously hold both posts of Music Director of the Orchestre National de Lyon and Artistic Director of that city's Auditorium, responsibilities he took on from 2000-2004. From 1992-2000, he was Music Director of the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris, of which Pierre Boulez is Honorary President, and from 1985-1987, he was resident conductor of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
David Robertson has made numerous recordings for the Sony Classical, Naive, EMI/Virgin Classics, Atlantic/Erato, Nuema, Ades Valois and Naxos labels. His recordings include works by Adams, Bartók, Boulez, Carter, Dusapin, Ginastera, Lalo, Milhaud, Reich, Saint-Saëns, and Silvestrov.
Born in Santa Monica, California, David Robertson attended London's Royal Academy of Music, where he studied French horn and composition before turning to orchestral conducting. Mr. Robertson is the recipient of Columbia University's 2006 Ditson Conductor's Award, and he and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra received the ASCAP Morton Gould Award for Innovative Programming for the 2005-06 season from the American Symphony Orchestra League. Musical America named him Conductor of the Year for 2000. In 1997, Mr. Robertson received the Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award, the premier prize of its kind, given to exceptionally gifted American conductors. In May 2007, he was granted an honorary doctorate from Maryville University. David Robertson has two teenage sons and is married to pianist Orli Shaham.
