Martyn Brabbins is a British conductor who has been a leading figure in UK musical life for over three decades. He served as Music Director of English National Opera from 2016 to 2023, and from the 2025-26 season holds the position of Chief Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra - as well as Chief Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of India. Known for championing British composers, he has conducted hundreds of world premieres and built a discography of nearly 150 recordings.
Brabbins opened the Malmö Symphony Orchestra's 2026-27 season with Richard Strauss's Don Juan and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5.
In the 2025-26 season at MSO, Brabbins conducted highlights including the Korngold Violin Concerto with Bomsori Kim and Jörg Widmann's trumpet concerto with Håkan Hardenberger.
Brabbins also took up the role of Chief Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of India from January 2026, alongside his Malmö post.
The Malmö Symphony Orchestra announced Brabbins as its next Chief Conductor in June 2024, with an initial contract of three seasons starting 2025-26.
Brabbins resigned as Music Director of English National Opera in October 2023, citing proposed severe cuts to the orchestra and chorus as incompatible with the company's artistic integrity.
classical19:00Beethoven and Shostakovich at Konsertsalen: pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason performs Beethoven's third piano concerto, followed by Shostakovich's eleventh symphony conducted by Martyn Brabbins.
classical19:00Brahms' monumental piano concerto performed by piano virtuoso Nelson Goerner under conductor Martyn Brabbins.
