Julian Rachlin appointed Guest Conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia

Julian Rachlin - photo credit Julia Wesley

The exciting Lithuanian-born violin virtuoso Julian Rachlin has been appointed the Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia from the 2015/2016 season. The orchestra has a tradition of working with instrumentalists as conductors; Rachlin will joining Lars Vogt who has been appointed Music Director from 2015/16, following on from violinist Thomas Zehetmair whose 10 year tenure finished in May this year.

Rachlin's concert with the orchestra, From Player to Podium brought the ensemble to London's Milton Court on 14 November 2014 when they performed Schnittke, Mozart and Beethoven with Rachlin as the soloist Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 'Turkish' as well as conducting the remainder of the programme. Rachlin made his conducting debut with the Royal Northern Sinfonia in October 2013 and the connection between conductor and orchestra was such that he was quickly invited back.

The Royal Northern Chamber Orchestra is based at the Sage Gateshead and is, amazingly, the UK's only full-time chamber orchestra as well as being the leading professional orchestra in the north east. It is the only UK orchestra to have a purpose-built home for all its rehearsals, concerts and recordings.