Andrew Litton Biography

Biography

Andrew Litton is Music Director of the New York City Ballet and Conductor Laureate of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as Music Director of Norway’s Bergen Philharmonic, where he led the orchestra to international acclaim through touring and recordings, with debuts at the BBC Proms, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein, Berlin’s Philharmonie, and Carnegie Hall. For his contributions, he was awarded the Norwegian Royal Order of Merit by King Harald V.

As Principal Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony (1988–94), he led their first American tour and made 14 recordings, including the Grammy-winning Belshazzar’s Feast. During his tenure as Music Director of the Dallas Symphony (1994–2006), he conducted three European tours, appeared four times at Carnegie Hall, launched a national children’s television series, produced 28 recordings, and increased the endowment from $19 million to $100 million.

He continues to guest conduct widely, with recent engagements including the BBC Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Tokyo Metropolitan, South Netherlands Philharmonic, Adelaide Symphony, and the Royal Swedish Orchestra. He also returns regularly to Bergen, Bournemouth, and the Singapore Symphony.

In the 2024/25 season, he made his debut with the Symphony Orchestra of India, conducting the Indian premiere of Mahler’s 5th Symphony, and led European performances with Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, and Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. He also made his debut with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich and took part in a recording project at Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra. Highlights of the 2025/26 season include performances with the Colorado, Phoenix, and Seattle Symphony Orchestras, a return to Galicia, and a full season at New York City Ballet.

In opera, Litton has led performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Australian Opera, and Deutsche Oper Berlin. He played a founding role in Bergen National Opera, conducting many of its acclaimed productions. As Artistic Director of the Minnesota Orchestra’s Sommerfest for 14 years, he concluded each season with sold-out opera performances, including Salome, Der Rosenkavalier, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, and La Traviata. In 2021, he conducted the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for the Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

Also an accomplished pianist and renowned Gershwin interpreter, Litton has over 140 recordings to his name as both pianist and conductor, earning numerous awards. A New York native, he trained at Juilliard and began his career with early posts at La Scala and the National Symphony under Mstislav Rostropovich.

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