RTE has announced the appointment of a Russian, Alexander Anissimov (49), as principal conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. Mr Anissimov, who is currently the orchestra's principal guest conductor, will take up his new post for a three year term in autumn 1998 in succession to Kasper de Roo.
Alexander Anissimov made his debut with the orchestra in the Wexford Festival's 1993 hit production of Tchaikovsky's fairy tale opera, Cherevichki. He was reinvited to Wexford in 1994 for Rubinstein's The Demon.
He made his first appearances in concert with the NSO in July 1994, bringing an exceptional discipline and polish to the orchestra's playing, as well as a persuasive emotionality to its performances.
The response from players, public and critics alike has been of an enthusiasm not seen since the term of Bryden Thomson as the orchestra's principal conductor.
Mr Anissimov, who was born in Moscow, studied organ and choral direction at the St Petersburg Conservatory, and conducting at the Moscow Conservatory under Leo Ginzburg and Gennadi Rozhdestvensky.
In 1975, he became conductor of St Petersburg's Maly Theatre, and in 1980 he was appointed chief conductor of the Byelorussian Opera and Ballet Theatre. Since 1994 he has been a guest conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1995 he was appointed chief conductor of the Byelorussian State Philharmonic Orchestra.
His operatic career has brought him to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and the Kirov Theatre in St Petersburg.
Alezxander Anissimov will be succeeded as principal guest conductor by Gerhard Markson (48).
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