Though respected for his interpretations of works that range across the entire repertoire, conductor Dennis Russell Davies is particularly well known for his skillful presentations of new music. He has conducted the premieres of works by several major composers and has a substantial recording catalog. In 1978, Davies became the second American to conduct at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Germany. Davies debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1996, conducting the premiere of Glass' The Voyage. He is the music director of the Sinfonieorchester Basel and chief conductor for the Filharmonie Brno and MDR-Sinfonieorchester. His recordings include a complete survey of Haydn's Symphonies with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and Glass: Waiting for the Barbarians. In 2023, Davies conducted the Filharmonie Brno in the New York premiere of Glass' Symphony No. 12 ("Lodger") at Carnegie Hall, featuring soloist Angélique Kidjo.