Gilbert, Alan (1967-…), is an American orchestra conductor and violinist. In 2019, Gilbert became the chief conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, in Hamburg, Germany. He had been the principal guest conductor of that orchestra, formerly called the NDR Symphony Orchestra, since 2004. In addition to the Elbphilharmonie position, he became music director of the Royal Swedish Opera in 2021.
Gilbert served as music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 2009 to 2017. He is especially known for his support of classical music by composers of the 1900’s and early 2000’s. Immediately after becoming music director in New York, Gilbert introduced significant changes in the orchestra’s programming. He restored the composer-in-residence program and created a series of concerts devoted to current music. An important feature of this series involved commissioning new works from young composers.
Gilbert has also conducted operas. As a violinist, he has played chamber music with such musicians as the American cellist Lynn Harrell and the Israeli-born violinist Pinchas Zukerman. Before joining the New York Philharmonic, Gilbert was chief conductor and artistic adviser of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in Sweden from 2000 to 2008.
Gilbert was born in New York City on Feb. 23, 1967. He first studied music with his parents, who both played violin in the New York Philharmonic. Gilbert studied music at Harvard University, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1989. He received a Master of Music degree in 1994 from the Juilliard School and also attended the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music. Gilbert began his conducting career in 1995 as assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. In 2003, he became the first music director of the Santa Fe Opera, conducting there from 2001 to 2006. Gilbert made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 2001 as a guest conductor.
