Andris Poga

A highly respected and swiftly rising star on the international stage, Andris Poga is widely praised for his “outstanding technique” (Le Figaro), and his “precision, serenity, and elegance” as a conductor (ResMusica) .

Following studies in Latvia and Vienna, Poga first burst on to the international scene in 2010, when he took First Prize at the Evgeny Svetlanov International Conducting Competition, Paris.  From there, he went on to become the Assistant Conductor at two of the world’s most prestigious orchestras: the Orchestre de Paris (2011-2014), where he worked closely with Music Director Paavo Järvi, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (2012-2014).

Since then, Poga’s career has only continued its brilliant upward trajectory.  He obtained his first Music Directorship (of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra) in 2013, which he held until 2021 before transitioning to the role of Artistic Advisor.  In 2019, Poga was announced as Chief Conductor of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (Norway): a role which he commenced at the start of the 2021/2022 season and continues to the present day.

Throughout his tenures at the head of these orchestras, Poga has been praised for his unique ability to reveal the piercing truth of music – a skill he displays with outstanding technical prowess and artistic finesse in concerts that completely absorb audiences, drawing them deep into a fiery and expansive sound world rarely heard in the 21st century.

As well as possessing a diverse and extensive repertoire, Poga is a passionate champion of the music of his homeland.  To that end, with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra he has committed to record an impressive number of works by underrepresented Latvian composers, such as Volfgangs Dārziņš, Jānis Ivanovs, Juris Karlsons (Skani), and Tlivaldis Ķeniņš (Ondine) – all to exceptional critical acclaim.

As a guest conductor, Poga works regularly with the leading orchestras of Europe – including the Danish National Symphony, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI Turin, Orchestre National de France, Oslo Philharmonic, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – and also leads extensive touring projects, such as with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France & Evgeny Kissin.  In the Far East, his star is also rising swiftly, with recent and forthcoming highlights including visits to such orchestras as the Hong Kong Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, Shanghai Symphony, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Additionally, Poga enjoys a particularly strong profile in the Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.  Amongst the many orchestras with whom he enjoys an ongoing relationship in these territories are the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Dresdner Philharmonie, Gewandhaus-Orchester Leipzig, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester Hamburg, SWR Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, and the Wiener Symphoniker.

Born in Riga in 1980, Poga studied the trumpet and conducting at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.  He went on to undertake postgraduate studies in conducting at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, and a degree in Philosophy from the University of Latvia.

When not travelling, Andris Poga spends his time at home in Riga, Latvia.