Andris Nelsons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andris Nelsons
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Nelsons on 9 September 2015
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| Born | 18 November 1978 |
| Occupation | Conductor |
| Years active | 2003–present |
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Andris Nelsons (born 18 November 1978) is a famous conductor from Latvia. He is known for leading some of the world's best orchestras. Currently, he is the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the United States. He also holds the title of Gewandhauskapellmeister for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in Germany. Before these roles, he led the Latvian National Opera and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Andris Nelsons was born in Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Music was a big part of his family. His mother started Latvia's first group for early music, which is music from a long time ago. His father was a conductor, played the cello, and taught music.
When Andris was just five years old, his mother and stepfather took him to see an opera called Tannhäuser by Richard Wagner. This experience had a huge impact on him. He later said it was "hypnotic" and he was "overwhelmed by the music." He even cried when a character died in the opera. He believes this was one of the most important moments in his childhood.
As he grew up, Andris learned to play the piano. At age 12, he started playing the trumpet. He also sang bass-baritone in his mother's early music group. He even played the trumpet with the orchestra of the Latvian National Opera.
Becoming a Conductor
Andris Nelsons decided to study conducting. He learned from famous teachers like Alexander Titov in Russia. He also took special classes with conductors such as Neeme Järvi and Jorma Panula.
A big moment came when he filled in as a trumpet player for the Oslo Philharmonic orchestra during a tour. This is where he met Mariss Jansons, another very famous conductor. Jansons became his mentor, guiding him in his conducting studies starting in 2002.
In 2003, Nelsons became the main conductor of the Latvian National Opera. He led this opera house for four years. In 2006, he also became the chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in Germany. His first time conducting at the famous Metropolitan Opera in New York was in 2009. In 2010, he made his debut at the Bayreuth Festival, conducting Wagner's opera Lohengrin.
Leading the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
In the United Kingdom, Andris Nelsons started working with the BBC Philharmonic orchestra. In October 2007, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) chose him as their new principal conductor and music director. This was a big step for him. He officially started this role in the 2008/09 season.
It was a bit unusual because he had only conducted the CBSO in a private concert and a recording session before being offered the job. His first public concert with them was in November 2007. He led the CBSO for several years, extending his contract multiple times. He finished his time as music director with the CBSO at the end of the 2014/15 season.
Conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons first conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in the United States in March 2011. He filled in for another conductor at Carnegie Hall. He then conducted them at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2012. His first performance with the BSO at their home, Symphony Hall, Boston, was in January 2013.
In May 2013, the BSO announced that Nelsons would be their 15th music director. He officially started this important role in the 2014/15 season. His first contract was for five years. The BSO has been very happy with him. In August 2015, they extended his contract through the 2021/22 season. Then, in October 2020, they extended it again through August 2025. In January 2024, his contract became a "rolling evergreen" contract, meaning it automatically renews.
Working with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Nelsons first conducted the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in Germany in 2011. In September 2015, this orchestra announced that he would be their next Gewandhauskapellmeister. This is a very special title for their chief conductor. He started this role in the 2017–2018 season. His contract was initially for five seasons. In October 2020, his contract was extended through July 2027.
Recording Music
Andris Nelsons has made many recordings with the orchestras he has led. With the CBSO, he recorded music by composers like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss.
He has also recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon. Their albums, especially those featuring music by Shostakovich, have won several Grammy Awards for "best orchestral performance." He won Grammys in 2015, 2016, and 2018 for these recordings. In 2019, he recorded all of Beethoven's symphonies with the Vienna Philharmonic.
In December 2019 and January 2020, Nelsons conducted the famous Vienna New Year's Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. During this concert, he even played a trumpet solo! He was the first conductor in the history of this concert to play a solo who wasn't a violinist. This concert was also released as a commercial recording.
Personal Life
Andris Nelsons was previously married to Kristīne Opolais, a Latvian opera singer. They met when she was singing in the chorus at the Latvian National Opera. They married in 2011 and had a daughter named Adriana Anna in 2011. They announced their divorce in 2018. Nelsons remarried in April 2019 to Alice Heidler.
Andris Nelsons also practices Taekwondo, a martial art. He earned his black belt in November 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Andris Nelsons para niños
