Ilan Volkov
© Vojtěch Brtnický
musical omnivore
Conductor
Principal Guest Conductor, Brussels Philharmonic
Principal Guest Conductor Designate, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Creator and Artistic Director, Tectonics Festivals
Creative Partner, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
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‘Volkov wore a nearly permanent grin. He leant, he crouched, he jumped, he implored. Audience applause and thankfulness at the end were tremendous’
Geoff Brown of The Times reviews London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican
A true musical omnivore, Ilan Volkov is acclaimed both for his vivid interpretations of core repertoire and his fearless commitment to contemporary music. Renowned for building deep, long‑term partnerships, he has collaborated with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for more than two decades – as Principal Conductor, Principal Guest Conductor, and now as Creative Partner. He also serves as Principal Guest Conductor of Brussels Philharmonic and, from September, Principal Guest Conductor of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. A proactive and influential commissioner of new music, Volkov has initiated and championed numerous new works, embedding them meaningfully alongside the classical canon. His Tectonics Festival, founded in 2012, has become one of the world’s most distinctive platforms for adventurous new music.
‘As musicians, we offer an opportunity for people to go deep inside themselves, which most of us don’t do on a regular basis. We need to be very positive, believe in what we do and have faith in the players and the audience’
