(Credit: Marco Borggreve)

German conductor Anja Bihlmaier has been named Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra effective September 2024.

In her new role, she will work closely with BBC Philharmonic’s Director Adam Szabo to plan and deliver concerts as well as collaborative projects, recordings, and broadcasts for audiences in and around Manchester, as well as on BBC Radio 3.

In a statement, Bihlmaier said, “I am thrilled to join the BBC Philharmonic team as Principal Guest Conductor, alongside such a respected colleague as John Storgårds. From our first concert at Bridgewater Hall, playing Shostakovich and Dvorak, I felt a special bond and mutual trust with the musicians. I love their dedication, their virtuosity and willingness to experiment, their sense of humor and most importantly their great passion for the music, and how they bring it to life for their audience. Our Proms concert last year and Bruckner 7 in Manchester were unforgettable highlights. I look forward to continuing our journey, hoping to achieve something special in the vibrant city of Manchester and at the BBC Proms.”

Throughout her career, Bihlmaier has served as Chief Conductor of the Residentie Orkest and conducted the London Philharmonic, Wiener Symphoniker, National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Mahler Chamber, Salzburg Mozartwoche, and the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony orchestras. This season she will conduct the Munich Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Bergen Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, Seattle and Toronto symphonies, and Spanish National Orchestra.