Anja Bihlmaier

Anja Bihlmaier, born in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, in 1978, is one of the most admired conductors of her generation. The daughter of parents who sang in a church choir, she trained as a pianist and violinist before studying conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, and built her early career in German opera houses, from Chemnitz and Hannover to Kassel, a grounding that gives her music-making its strong sense of drama and line. She served as Chief Conductor of the Residentie Orkest in The Hague from 2021 to 2025, and in 2024 was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, the first woman to hold that post. Admired for her energy, clarity and expressive warmth across a broad repertoire, she brings real theatrical flair to this colourful programme of dance, virtuosity and New World melody.