Vinay in NY with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor Vinay Parameswaran is working in Rochester, NY this week in preparation for two performances with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The evening concerts at Kodak Hall, Eastman Theatre on Thursday 23 January and Saturday 25 January will feature a programme of Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour, Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (with soloist Stewart Goodyear) and close with Elgar’s epic Enigma Variations.

Following his UK debut with the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras in Autumn 2024, Vinay now looks forward to returning to London to make his debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on the 4 February. The concert at London’s Maida Vale Studios will include a programme of Simon, Ibert and Prokofiev.

Find out more.

Vinay makes his UK debut with the Philharmonia

Recognised as one of the most exciting and versatile young American conductors on the podium today, Vinay Parameswaran is delighted to make his UK debut this week with the Philharmonia Orchestra. The performance on Wednesday 9 October at Bedford Corn Exchange features fellow JBM artist Juho Pohjonen as soloist for Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, between a programme of Nielson’s Helios Overture and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. Pohjonen returns to the UK in May 2025 for a piano trio programme with Stephen Waarts and Jonathan Swensen at Wigmore Hall.

Later in October, Parameswaran makes his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne (27 October) with a programme of Sibelius Finlandia, Dvorak Cello Concerto in B Minor (with soloist Sterling Elliott) and Beethoven Symphony No. 7.  He will then make further debuts with the BBC Philharmonic (9-13 November) and BBC Symphony Orchestras (4 February) with performances in the Lake District’s Aerial Festival and studio concerts in both Media City, Salford and Maida Vale Studios, London. In addition to his UK dates, this season will see Parameswaran make his debut with the Chicago Sinfonietta (21 & 22 November) and the Seattle Symphony (3 May).

This evening (8 October, c.18:30), Parameswaran features on BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ to discuss his forthcoming debut with the Philharmonia and share details of his upcoming UK performances. Listen to the programme live or catch up on BBC Sounds

Vinay Parameswaran conducts Vixens this Spring

Over the next three months, Vinay Parameswaran will conduct two productions of Janáček’s opera The Cunning Little Vixen. Vinay has been in rehearsal with Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) since January and their production will open on the 29th of February at the Corbett Auditorium. Vinay will then return to the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was previously an Albert M. Greenfield Fellow in Conducting, to lead their production. Performances start on the 3rd of May at the Perelman Theater, Philadelphia, concluding the Curtis Opera Theatre’s season.

‘Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen has been one of my favorite operas ever since I first encountered it as a student thirteen years ago. Janacek’s unique score is full of beautiful moments and wonderful surprises. The opera sheds light on humanity, our relationship with nature and the world, and the amazing circle of life. I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to conduct this masterpiece twice this spring at two of the US’ premier opera training programs at CCM and Curtis.

My first time experiencing this opera was when I was a student at Curtis and I assisted Corrado Rovaris on the production we did in 2011. I can’t wait to be back at my alma mater to bring this wonderful score to life with the supremely talented musicians at Curtis.’ Vinay Parameswaran.

CCM Production information
Curtis Production information

A busy start to the 2023/24 season for Vinay Parameswaran

Over the next four weeks, Vinay Parameswaran launches his 2023/24 season travelling from San Antonio to Toledo then on to Phoenix.

This week Vinay has been conducting the San Antonio Philharmonic with soloist Tine Thing Helseth in a programme featuring Gabriella Smith, Alexander Arutiunian, Reena Esmail and Jean Sibelius. With concerts tonight, Friday 13th and tomorrow Saturday 14th October.

Next week Vinay returns to the Toledo Symphony, leading a programme including Beethoven’s “little symphony in F,” and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with soloist Rachel Barton Pine. With performances on the 20th and 21st October at the Valentine Theatre.

The final week of October sees Vinay make his Phoenix Symphony debut, conducting a programme of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Carlos Simon’s Breathe and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with soloist Alena Baeva as part of the 23/24 Classics Series. During his stay in Phoenix, Vinay will also lead a masterclass at the Arizona State University working with student conductors and a chamber orchestra.

The three Phoenix Symphony performances will take place between the 3-5th November in Phoenix’s Symphony Hall.

Following a busy October, Vinay will record with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Glasgow and return to the US to work with the orchestra of the San Francisco Conservatory.

Podcast: The Conscious Artist

Vinay recently joined Pallavi Mahidhara on her podcast The Conscious Artist, focusing on mental health.

They discuss discrimination and micro-racism, along with how the younger generations are building the strength to deal with these issues.

Have a listen here: https://tr.ee/HwHDkamGtm

New Jersey Symphony presents Hooray for Bollywood

Photo credit: saubhagya-gandharv

On Saturday 13 May, Vinay will conduct the New Jersey Symphony in “Hooray for Bollywood”, the next concert in the New Jersey Symphony Family Series.

Inspired by Bollywood, the Indian Hindi-language film industry, the program tells captivating stories of Bollywood’s meteoric rise to international fame and dance along with special guests to signature music, moves and lyrics of this thrilling genre.

The Symphony will be joined by acclaimed South Asian musicians, including prominent sitar player Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury. The program will also feature new arrangements by award-winning pianist, composer and journalist Charu Suri, and dynamic dance routines and vocal accompaniments by Indian dance and music students from Kulture Kool.

Erin Lunsford Norton, Vice President of Artistic Planning at the New Jersey Symphony comments: "We are thrilled to be collaborating with Vinay Parameswaran and Kulture Kool to bring this exciting and unique performance to the stage. The fusion of Indian music and Western orchestration is a testament to the power of music to unite people across cultures and borders."

The New Jersey Symphony Family Series presented by The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

Find out more here.

Interview: Classical Voice

‘Conductor Vinay Parameswaran Stands on the Edge of a Major Career’

Lou Fancher at Classical Voice recently interviewed Vinay about his influences both in his early years and now, the philosophies and practices he brings to the podium, and the need for more diversity, equity and urgency about social justice and climate change in the post-pandemic world.

They also discussed his upcoming concert on 24th February with the Oakland Symphony when he conducts a program titled “Notes From California”.

Read the full interview here.