Seattle Symphony Orchestra guest conductor profiles

Ludovic Morlot

Former assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony who works with symphonies in the U.S. and abroad. Because of the havoc wreaked on international travel by the Icelandic volcano this spring, the French-born young maestro got to make two appearances in town. Read reviews of Morlot here and here.

Arrild Remmereit

Past conductor in Vienna, Kharkov and Kiev, now travels as a guest extensively. Review of Remmereit

Christopher Seaman

Conductor of the Rochester (N.Y.) Philharmonic. Tours extensively in the U.S.and abroad; is chief guest conductor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Review of Seaman

Gary Thor Wedow

Teaches music at Indiana University and Juilliard; extensive opera background. Review of Thor Wedow

Kurt Masur

Retired after distinguished career with the New York Philharmonic and London Philharmonic; music director for life of the Orchestre National de France. Now guest-conducts worldwide. Review of Masur

Nicholas McGegan

Former music director of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, held posts with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; early-music expert. Review of McGegan

Joana Carneiro

Named music director of the Berkeley Symphony in January 2009, official guest conductor of Lisbon's Gulbenkian Orchestra. Former assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic known for her enagement with contemporary as well as classic repertoire. Read more about Carneiro

Paul Goodwin

Expert in the early oboe, named music director for the 2011 season of the Carmel Bach Festival. Review of Goodwin

James Gaffigan

Chief conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra; former associate conductor with the San Francisco Symphony. Review of Gaffigan

Vassily Sinaisky

Held posts with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Bolshoi Theater and Russian State Orchestra. Review of Sinaisky

Thomas Dausgaard

Chief conductor of the Danish Symphony National Orchestra and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Conducts extensively in North America. Review of Dausgaard

Gilbert Varga

Son of violinist Tibor Varga, Gilbert Varga is becoming known as a guest conductor outside of Europe; he has a long history with chamber orchestras. He's distinctive for his precise baton technique. Review of Varga

Robert Spano

In his ninth — and successful — season as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; former conductor of the Brooklyn Philharmonic; bandied about briefly by critics as a candidate to lead the New York Philharmonic in its last search. Review of Spano

Andrew Manze

The English-born Baroque violinist and conductor is associate guest conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and previous conductor of the baroque orchestra The English Concert. Considered a maverick in early-music circles for his adventurous interpretations. Review of Manze

Jun Märkl

Music director of the Orchestre National de Lyon and principal conductor of the MDR Symphony Orchestra in Leipzig. Review of Märkl