British maestro Sir Andrew Davis will continue to lead the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as its Chief Conductor until the end of 2019. Sir Andrew, whose previous directorships include the musical director position of Glyndebourne Opera, and chief conductor position of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, was appointed to the MSO’s top conducting job in January 2013. Since then he has led some of the orchestra’s most successful programmes, including the start of a cycle of Mahler’s symphonies (which will continue in future seasons), and performances of Berlioz’s Damnation of Faust and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, featuring acclaimed British tenor Ian Bostridge. He also toured the MSO to Europe in 2014, which included the orchestra’s BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and performances at the revered Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

MSO Chairman Harold Mitchell, who announced the extended contract yesterday, said, “It’s a major coup for Melbourne to have one of the most important classical music figures of today gracing our Hamer Hall stage,” adding, “Sir Andrew and the orchestra have a very special connection. You can see this through the extraordinary performances.”

Sir Andrew added his enthusiasm for the continuing partnership, saying, “I am delighted to be able...