Artistic Director

David Curtis

Artistic Director

David Curtis is Artistic Director of Orchestra of the Swan, the driving force behind the Swan’s nationally acclaimed Take Note! and Music of Our Time series, and Festival Director of Spring Sounds, based in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon featured on televisions’ South Bank Show with David conducting Tasmin Little and Orchestra of the Swan in the Barber Violin concerto and world premiere of Roxanna Panufnik’s ‘Japanese Spring’, commissioned for Spring Sounds.

an avid public, packed houses, enlightened sponsorship, the sheer "wow" factor of David Curtis and his accomplished Orchestra of the Swan and Tasmin Little… Birmingham Post

His thought-provoking programming, infectious enthusiasm for contemporary music and considered but fresh interpretations of standard repertoire have established him as a conductor of note on the international stage, working in Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany - recording with Dimitri Ashkenasi and the Hamburg Symphonika, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Romania, Singapore, Sweden and the USA. 

…David Curtis has raised this jewel to an impressive level of performance…The Guardian

In 2008 he made his debut conducting the Academy of St Martin’s-in-the-Field and he has appeared with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and the North Hungarian Symphony Orchestra.  He appears as soloist and conductor in Finland with the Mikkeli City Orchestra, the Roveniemi Chamber and Yvaskyla Symphony Orchestras in the concert hall and on Finnish Radio where he premiered a new symphony by leading Finnish composer Aki Yli-Salomaki.

...Curtis is a reassuringly calm yet always encouraging and cajoling presence on the rostrum, it all adds up to a most enjoyable afternoon...  The Gramophone

His recordings for Somm Recordings include repertoire by Mozart, Mahler, Debussy, Berlioz, Finzi, Copland, John Ireland and the world premiere recording of the Arnold Bax Piano concertino.  This premiere, 70 years after the composer abandoned the work, attracted national media interest including a major new television documentary about the life and work of Bax. 

...an excellent, up-for-it orchestra and conductor...   BBC Music Magazine

 ...an ebullient and invaluable disc,Ireland enthusiasts will rejoice...  The Gramophone

 ...excellent support from this quality orchestra...  Classic Fm Magazine

In autumn 2006 he conducted in the biennial Nordic Music Days Festival with the Icelandic contemporary music ensemble Caput, the first British composer to be invited to do so, giving the world premiere of works by four leading Nordic composers for Iceland Radio and in May 2007 conducted the Moravian Symphony Orchestra in the prestigious annual Olomouc Dvorak's Festival and the Policka Martinu Festival.

…all credit then to Curtis and Orchestra of the Swan…  The Guardian

 David is a champion of new work and has commissioned and given world premieres of at least 50 works by British, Bulgarian, Chinese, Nordic, and American composers including Snorri Sigfús Birgisson, Oscar Colomina i Bosch, Joe Cutler, Tansy Davies, Joseph Duddell, Sampo Haapamäki, Lars-Petter Hagen, Thuridur Jónsdottir, Peter Lieuwen, Paul Patterson, Joseph Phibbs, Julian Philips, Marie Samuelsson, Dobrinka Tabakova, Param Vir, Andrew Waggoner, Errollyn Wallen, Shu Wang and John Woolrich.

While it is David Curtis's policy to commission works that complement classical pieces, it is his own enthusiasm in presenting them that sustains the exercise, his often imaginative programmes have a knack of making connections which are genuinely stimulating... The Guardian

David enjoys working with musicians of all ages.  In the USA he is a visiting Guest conductor at the Moores’ School of Music Houston, and Setnor School of Music Syracuse where he will conduct the world premiere of Andrew Waggoner’s violin concerto in 2011.  He conducts at Birmingham Conservatoire and Guildhall School, London and is guest conductor with numerous youth and student orchestra in the UK and abroad.  He is guest conductor with the American Schools International Orchestras in London, Beijing, Brussels, Geneva and Singapore for whom he is currently devising an ‘On-Line Residency’.

…a packed house for this concert…a genuine esprit de corps, with players as keenly alert to each other as they are to the conductor…  Daily Telegraph

Since 1999 David has been principal conductor of the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra and under his leadership the orchestra has developed an outstanding reputation, tackling major works such as the Strauss Alpine Symphony, Mahler, and Rachmaninov symphonies and the Britten War Requiem.  

...With a large choir and orchestra and attentive audience, the Abbey was packed for an impressive performance of Britten’s War Requiem. David Curtis was the impressive as he drew musicianship and interpretation from his musicians through his confident understanding of the requirements of the score... Gloucester Echo

The CSO gives 8 – 10 performances annually and in July 2008 gave 3 concerts in the Annecy Festival, and returns in 2010.  David has wide experience as guest with other amateur orchestras and in 2010 he joins the conducting staff at Canford Summer School.

…a lively performance of Strauss Don Juan, followed by the Four Last Songs… Elizabeth Clarke’s voice blended impeccably with the sensuous playing of the orchestra…sheer perfection.  Strauss’ Alpine Symphony towered over both…the charismatic David Curtis succeeded magnificently…a full-blooded, spell-binding performance…Gloucester Echo

Keen to take music into the wider community, David was responsible for the Swan’s residency at Birmingham International Airport and for overseeing their extensive and highly imaginative Education programme.  He continues to be in demand as a speaker, giving illuminating descriptions of life on the podium and behind the scenes.

…a superb performance of Stravinsky's Petrushka… David Curtis's attention to detail paid off handsomely, the crisp, precise and committed playing of the musicians conjured up vividly the bustling atmosphere of the Shrovetide fair in St Petersburg… Gloucester Echo

Prior to conducting David had a distinguished career in chamber music, working with leading musicians and composers of international stature, including Sir William Walton, Sir Michael Tippett and Robert Simpson.  His conducting teachers include the legendary Finnish maestro Jorma Panula. 

…David Curtis directs his with style and understanding…a lynch-pin in the obvious success of this venture, dreaming up a fascinating menu of offerings, chatting to the audience as if among friends, and drawing colourfully communicative readings…Birmingham Post