Born in Moscow, he studied in Germany at the music academies of Dresden and Berlin. He has conducted at opera houses including the ROH, the Met, La Monnaie, Opéra National de Paris and La Scala. He was appointed Music Director of Glyndebourne in 2000 and made his Festival debut in 2002 conducting Albert Herring, followed by Die Fledermaus in 2003, Die Zauberflöte, The Miserly Knight and Gianni Schicchi in 2004, La Cenerentola and Otello in 2005, Die Fledermaus and Betrothal in a Monastery in 2006, Macbeth and La Cenerentola in 2007.
He is also Principal Conductor of the LPO, Principal Guest Conductor of the Russian National Orchestra, and Special Artist of the OAE. Recent and future engagements include concerts with the LPO, Philadelphia Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Concertgebouw and Chamber Orchestra of Europe.