Biography

Biography

Unanimously considered by orchestras, audiences and specialized press as one of the most interesting conductors of his generation, in recent years Roberto Beltrán-Zavala has developed a solid international reputation as an artist of the highest level: Exceptional communicator and highly qualified musician, Beltrán -Zavala builds strong and intense relationships with the orchestras he works with and is highly respected for his enthusiastic and devoted commitment to the works he conducts.

In his last seasons, the activities of maestro Beltrán-Zavala included successful debuts with orchestras in Holland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, Romania, Poland, Malta, Argentina and Mexico, conducting cornerstones of the repertoire such as the integral cycles of the symphonies of Dmitri Shostakovich and Gustav Mahler, as well as capital works of the 20th century by composers such as Stravinsky, Varese, Boulez, Messiaen, Bartok and Ligetti.

Music director and Chief conductor of the emblematic Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra  (OSUG) since 2015, Beltrán-Zavala is also the artistic director of the Rotterdam based re: orchestra, considered by specialised media as one of the best chamber orchestras in Europe, and is since 2020, music director of the prestigious International Palermo Classica Festival in Italy.

Among others he has conducted the Mexico City’s Philharmonic Orchestra, The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Mexico’s National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre d’Auvergne, Silesian Philharmonic, Holland Symphonia, Romanian National Radio Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Strings, The Chamber Orchestra of Belgium, Bremerhaven opera, Sinfonica di Sanremo, Orchestre Royal de Wallonie and Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

In the fall of 2016, BIS Records released his European debut CD as part of a series called Essential Music. The recording received extraordinary recognition from specialized critics (The Strad, Gramophone, Klassik Heute, Amadeus, etc.), as well as an excellent reception from the public. Likewise, in December 2019 OSUG released its live recording of Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony, and in 2022 Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony for the french label Evidence to international acclaim. 

In October 2022, Maestro Beltrán Zavala received the prestigious “Mahler Award” from the Mahler Foundation for his commitment to the music of composer Gustav Mahler. 

Roberto Beltrán Zavala has Mexican and Dutch nationality and lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.