Conductor Vassily Sinaisky named Bolshoi musical director

Russian conductor Vassily Sinaisky will take over the post of the Bolshoi musical director, the celebrated Russian theatre announced Monday.

Sinaisky will replace avant-guard composer Leonid Dessiatnikov, who was appointed to the post in September 2009 and whose contract was set to run through December 2011. He is expected to continue working for the theatre. especially on a new ballet based on a Balzac novel.

Sinaisky will also hold the post of chief conductor, a theatre official told Interfax news agency.

A graduate of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, Sinaisky has previously served as musical director and chief conductor for the Moscow Philarmonic Orchestra and the Russian Symphony Orchestra.

He has also worked extensively abroad, including with the San Francisco and Berlin operas, as well as the BBC Philarmonic Orchestra.