Semyon Bychkov (conductor)

Semyon Bychkov

Semyon Bychkov (born November 30 1952) in is a Russian-American conductor.

Bychkov was born in Leningrad, USSR, (now St. Petersburg, Russia), where he studied at the Glinka Choir School for ten years and later at the Leningrad Conservatory. In 1973 he won the Rachmaninov Conducting Competition and was asked to conduct the Leningrad Philharmonic. However the concert was canceled because of Bychkov's political views. In 1974 he emigrated from the Soviet Union. From 1980 to 1985, Semyon Bychkov served as music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony and as principal guest conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic. He was named music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic in 1985 and held that post until 1989. In 1983 became a United States citizen. From 1989 to 1998 he was music director of the Orchestre de Paris. He then moved to Cologne to be conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra. Bychkov is married to the pianist Marielle Labèque. He is the brother of conductor Yakov Kreizberg.

External links

• Semyon Bychkov official website