Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider is one of those rare musicians who has “transitioned uncommonly well to the podium, bringing his violinist’s insight and profound musicality” (Cleveland.com). The 23/24 season marks his fourth as Music Director of the Orchestre National de Lyon, a partnership that has already been extended until 26/27.

Szeps-Znaider regularly features as guest conductor with some of the world’s leading orchestras, with recent and forthcoming performances with the New York Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic and Bamberg Symphony. An imminent return to the Chicago Symphony continues a flourishing relationship with the orchestra: ‘his mastery showed in a thousand details[…]. An almost steely clarity marked every measure of the performance, and yet the conductor never lost sign of the music’s essential humanity, its vitality and warmth (Chicago On The Aisle). On the operatic front, following an outstandingly successful debut conducting ‘The Magic Flute’ at the Dresden Semperoper, Szeps-Znaider was immediately re-invited to conduct ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ in Autumn 2019. He also recently made his debut with the Royal Danish Opera and the Zurich Opera House with new productions of ‘The Magic Flute’ and will also be conducting that title at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

Also a virtuoso violinist, Szeps-Znaider maintains his reputation as one of the world’s leading exponents of the instrument with a busy calendar of concerto and recital engagements. This season, he makes return appearances with the London Philharmonic as well as the Leipzig Gewandhaus, where is notably taking part in the Shostakovich Festival, held on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death, and will perform works alongside Daniil Trifonov and Gautier Capuçon.

Moscow-born concert pianist Andrey Gugnin is rapidly gaining international acclaim as a passionately virtuosic  performer, who possesses an ‘extraordinarily versatile and agile technique, which serves an often inspired  musical imagination’ (Gramophone). In 2020, the BBC Music Magazine Awards named Andrey the winner of the  Instrumental category for his recording of Shostakovich preludes and piano sonatas on Hyperion Records. Since  winning the prestigious Sydney International Piano Competition in 2016, Andrey has gone from strength to  strength in concerts and recordings which exhibit his impassioned interpretations. 

In demand as a concert soloist, Andrey has been invited to perform as a guest artist with notable orchestras  across the globe, such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky  Theatre Orchestra, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, West Australian Symphony Orchestra  and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. 

Andrey has performed on some of the most prestigious stages in the world, including the Musikverein in Vienna,  Konzerthaus Berlin, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Carnegie Hall in New York, Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Auditorio  Nacional in Madrid, Sydney Opera House, the Grand Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory, Mariinsky Concert  Hall, the Louvre in Paris, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Andrey has also appeared at a number of international  festivals, including the Verbier, Ruhr Piano, Mariinsky International, Dubrovnik Summer, Ohrid Summer and  International Chopin festivals. 

As a recording artist, Andrey has published a broad scope of repertoire, ranging from works for solo piano to  concertos. His release of Liszt’s Transcendental Studies (Piano Classics, 2018) was Editor’s Choice in  Gramophone. His recording of Shostakovich concertos (Delos International, 2007) was featured in the  soundtrack of Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film Bridge of Spies. His most recent disc, Holberg Suite - Ballade  & Lyric Pieces, was released in May 2024 with Hyperion.