Edo de Waart, who made his American debut at The Santa Fe Opera in 1971, has been named The Santa Fe Opera’s chief conductor, effective October 1, 2007. He has a four-year appointment and will conduct at least one opera every summer, beginning with Billy Budd in 2008. Mr. de Waart’s primary responsibility will be oversight of the orchestra. He will also consult with General Director Richard Gaddes on musical matters and repertory. Mr. de Waart has had a long association with the company, having conducted ten productions from 1971 through 1998.

Edo de Waart is currently the artistic director and chief conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. His previous positions include chief conductor and artistic director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, and chief conductor of the Netherlands Opera. He served as the music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic from 1973-79, the San Francisco Symphony from 1977-85, and the Minnesota Orchestra from 1986-95.

Mr. de Waart has appeared with leading symphony orchestras and opera companies in the United States, Europe, Australia and the Orient. Recent engagements have taken him to the Musikverein in Vienna, the the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Suntory Hall in Japan. He has conducted at Covent Garden and Bayreuth, has led acclaimed Ring cycles in San Francisco and Sydney, and conducted the world premiere of John Adams’ Nixon in China at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mr. de Waart has also conducted new productions of Der Rosenkavalier at the Opera National de Paris and The Marriage of Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera.