A Lebanese-Polish conductor and composer whose individuality and creative flair have taken him to theatres, festivals and orchestras around the world. Recent collaborators include the Royal Opera House, Dutch National Opera, La Monnaie, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Polish National Opera, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. Informed by his own work as a composer, Akiki is a specialist in contemporary repertoire and has conducted the world premieres of many new works. Recent successes include Alexander Raskatov’s acclaimed Animal Farm at Dutch National Opera, which won the OPER! Award for world premiere of the year in 2023, Philip Venables’ We Are The Lucky Ones, and Philippe Boesmans’ final opera, On purge bébé. Aside from conducting, Akiki is a scholar in the music of East and West and their mutual influence, giving lectures on the subject, and his interest in astronomy and prime numbers has influenced his recent compositions.
Ksawery Zamoyski