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Named after and headquartered at the acclaimed New York City venue Le Poisson Rouge, Ensemble LPR is an assemblage of New York’s finest musicians. The group personifies the venue’s commitment to aesthetic diversity and artistic excellence.

Ensemble LPR performs an eclectic spectrum of music—from works by the finest living composers, to compelling interpretations of the standard repertoire—and collaborates with distinguished artists from classical and non-classical backgrounds: Timo Andres, Simone Dinnerstein, San Fermin, Daniel Hope, Taka Kigawa, Jennifer Koh, Mica Levi, David Longstreth (of Dirty Projectors), John Lurie, Ursula Oppens, Max Richter, André de Ridder, Christopher Rountree and Fred Sherry, to name a few.

In January 2015 Ensemble LPR made its Deutsche Grammophon debut with Follow, Poet, featuring the music of Mohammed Fairouz and the words of Seamus Heaney and John F. Kennedy. Ensemble LPR’s acclaimed Central Park performance last June, part of the 110th Anniversary of the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts.

In 2008 Le Poisson Rouge changed the classical music landscape, creating a new environment in which to experience art music. In doing so, Le Poisson Rouge expanded classical music listenership. The New York Times has heralded Le Poisson Rouge as “[a] forward-thinking venue that seeks to showcase disparate musical styles under one roof” and “[the] coolest place to hear contemporary music.” The Los Angeles Times raves, “[The] place isn’t merely cool…the venue is a downright musical marvel.” Le Poisson Rouge Co-Founder David Handler brings this same ethos to Ensemble LPR, of which he is Founding Executive & Artistic Director.

André de Ridder collaborates with artists and ensembles such as the Hallé Orchestra, cartoon band Gorillaz, jazz musician Uri Caine and Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW series as well as Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood and Bryce Dessner from The National. His passion for the development of contemporary music – covering the classical, pop and opera worlds – has contributed to his position as ‘one of the world’s most daring conductors’ (The Wall Street Journal). He performs regularly at international festivals, including BBC Proms, Holland Festival, Manchester International Festival, Venice Biennale, and was Artist in Residence at Sydney Festival 2013.
 
The 14/15 season opening is marked by festival appearances of his musical collective ‘stargaze’ following their successful festival launch at Berlin’s Volksbühne last season featuring a line up of world premieres and new collaborations including Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, Ben Shemie with artists Tyondai Braxton, Mouse on Mars, My Brightest Diamond and Pekka Kuusisto. Particularly interested in the developments of contemporary pop/folk/electronica and ‘uncategorisable genres’ the ensemble appears at the Haldern – and Into The Great Wide Open
 
Festivals as ensemble in residence. Further appearances include the Kilkenny Arts Festival with The Dodos, Berlin collaborating with Grant Hart, an appearance at the Muziekgebouw Amsterdam with These New Puritans as well as London’s Barbican Centre later this autumn.
 
De Ridder will also return to London’s Southbank Centre for the UK premiere of Terry Riley’s organ concerto At the Royal Majestic with Carmeron Carpenter and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Re-invitations include orchestras such as London Sinfonietta, BBC NOW, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Residentie Orkest, Orchestre de Paris, Copenhagen Philharmonic where he is Artistic Director of their “60 Minutes” series, La Poisson Rouge, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and three performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Metropolis New Music Festival.
 
In the opera field de Ridder will lead his debut production at Finnish National Opera for the Finnish premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s opera Emilie. He will further conduct revival performances of Monteverdi’s Orpheus and Odysseus following the extensive project taking place at Berlin’s Komische Oper last year performing and taking a creative role in arranging three Monteverdi operas in a new version by Elena Kats-Chernin directed by Barrie Kosky.
 
De Ridder’s discography includes Damon Albarn’s Dr Dee (Virgin), Gorillaz’ album Plastic Beach (EMI), Max Richter’s The Four Seasons Recomposed (DG) and, most recently, a recording with Copenhagen Philharmonic of works by Bryce Dessner and Johnny Greenwood (DG). The Max Richter recording was awarded an ECHO Klassik ‘Classic Without Borders’ award 2013.
 
André de Ridder studied at the Music Academies of Vienna and London, under Leopold Hager and Sir Colin Davis and held the position of Assistant Conductor at the Hallé Orchestra, 2005-2006. He was principal conductor of Sinfonia ViVA until 2012.

(read more at André de Ridder official site