News - 8 December 2008

“It’s a special conductor who can frame one concert with Sibelius and Debussy and devote most of another to Mahler, while making those three utterly different musical worlds from the beginning of the last century seem equally natural.” The Guardian, 3 August 2007

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra announced today that Ilan Volkov will become the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor after he steps down as Chief Conductor in September 2009. His initial three-year contract will be for a minimum of four weeks each season.

Ilan Volkov was appointed Chief Conductor of the BBC SSO in January 2003. After a fruitful seven year collaboration he hands over the helm to the eminent Scottish conductor Donald Runnicles in September 2009.

Through his imaginative and creative programming, Ilan Volkov has helped to develop particular areas of the BBC SSO’s repertoire and bring to light works by composers not explored previously. With the orchestra he has also helped cement a successful relationship with Hyperion Records, which has included acclaimed CD’s of Janacek, Britten and Roslavets. He and the BBC SSO have also toured extensively with successful visits to Estonia, Prague, Spain, South America and Holland, and have appeared at many important Festivals, including the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

Commenting on his appointment as Principal Conductor, Ilan Volkov said: “The BBC SSO will always be an important part of my musical life. I feel that every concert with them is an inspiring and joyous occasion. Together we have developed significantly over the past seven years and opened many new musical doors during this time. I look forward to this journey continuing with my appointment as Principal Guest Conductor.”

As Principal Guest Conductor, Ilan Volkov will remain a central part of the BBC SSO’s diverse programming. His versatility across all musical genres has proved to be a real asset to the orchestra, with world-class performances of core repertoire, whilst at the same time championing works by new composers. He has been widely acknowledged for his interpretation of contemporary repertoire, in particular that of Jonathan Harvey, the BBC SSO’s Composer in Association, with whom he recorded Body Mandala on the NMC label. This recording was the recipient of the 2008 Gramophone award for Best Contemporary Recording. Additionally, he played an integral part in the first IRCAM Summer Academy to be held in the UK, hosted in Glasgow by the BBC SSO in April 2008.

Gavin Reid, Director of the BBC SSO, said: “We are delighted that Ilan’s relationship with the orchestra will continue as its new Principal Guest Conductor. Ilan’s energy, enthusiasm and musicianship are unrivalled, and with Donald Runnicles as Chief Conductor the orchestra now has a remarkable artistic team promising a hugely exciting future."

In response to Volkov’s impact on Scotland's cultural life, Ken MacQuarrie, Controller of BBC Scotland said: "Ilan Volkov is a musician of great artistry, and his contribution to the cultural life of Scotland, and particularly BBC Scotland, has been enormous. Many of his performances and broadcasts as Chief Conductor will remain etched in our minds for a long time to come, and I look forward to his continued role within the orchestra enormously."

Ilan Volkov’s next concert with the BBC SSO is on 11 December in Glasgow City Halls, in the finale of the orchestra’s successful Russian Winter series, when he conducts Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring for the first time. Following that concert, both he and the orchestra are set to record a number of works by Stravinsky for future release on CD by Hyperion. Other plans this season include a performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 in March 2009.

Read Michael Tumelty’s article about Ilan Volkov in The Herald

Read an article about Ilan Volkov in The Guardian