Congratulations! to Matthias Bamert on his appointment as Associate Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - effective from 1 September 2001 for an initial period of 4 years. Bamert has worked extensively with the RPO in recent years, including tours of Spain, Switzerland and the UK, and this consolidation of the relationship will be manifested in two Barbican concerts a year as well as tours at home and abroad. Bamert’s programmes will be complementary to those of Music Director Daniele Gatti, covering a broad spectrum from the Classical and Romantic repertoire, through to new commissions from exciting young British composers. Forthcoming concerts together will include: Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique in Santiago (Spain), Holst’s The Planets at the Luzern Festival; a contemporary British programme including a new commission at the Europäischer Musikmonat in Basel in November 2001 (of which Bamert is Artistic Director); and a Strauss/ Stravinsky programme at the Barbican in May 2002.