Sergey Simakov

Sergey Simakov is regarded as one of the outstanding conductors of his generation and has achieved success in both classical concert and opera repertoire. His versatility is esteemed by renowned orchestras throughout Europe.

Trained by distinguished conductors such as Iván Fischer, Jorma Panula, Eri Klas, Daniel Raiskin, Ilan Volkov, Sian Edwards and Marko Letonja, Simakov completed his conducting studies at the music conservatories in Kazan and Freiburg under the guidance of Fuat Mansurov, Scott Sandmeier, and Lutz Köhler. Simakov has received multiple awards at international conducting competitions, including the 2015 International Conducting Competition Jeunesses Musicales Bucharest and, most recently in 2023, the second prize (“Silver Baton”) at the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors and the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Award. Moreover, between 2012 and 2016 he was a fellow of the DIRIGENTENFORUM of the German Music Council.

Simakov has conducted at theatres such as the Mecklenburg State Theatre Schwerin, Ulm Theatre, and the Komische Oper Leipzig. A notable success was his interpretation of Donizetti's "L’Elisir d’Amore" at the Cottbus State Theatre, where his conducting was praised for its "considerable verve" (Lausitzer Rundschau), and he himself was highlighted as an "authentic opera conductor" (Der Opernfreund).

Simakov has conducted numerous orchestras and ensembles, collaborating with the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin, Nord Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra. Regular engagements take him to different festivals, including the George Enescu Festival 2023 in Romania.

As the founder and artistic director of the Giraud Ensemble Chamber Orchestra, Simakov released a well-received CD in 2019 featuring works by Goulda, Prokofiev, and Poulenc under the label Solo Musica/SONY Music in collaboration with SRF2-Kultur. The orchestra, based in Zurich since its establishment in 2015, was praised for its "precise and translucent interpretation" (Das Orchester). Another CD recording with the ensemble was the 2017 production "PRIMUS" for the label "Yartista."

Future invitations in 2024 include collaborations with the Elbląska Orkiestra Kameralna, Filharmonia Gorzowska, Sinfonietta Cracovia, Filarmonia Kaliska, Teatr Wielki w Łodzi, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc, Opole Philharmonic, and the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Giraud Ensemble Chamber Orchestra.

Since 2017, Simakov has been a lecturer in orchestral conducting at the University of Music Freiburg.