David Hernando Rico

music director of the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra

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Academic Background and Early Career

David Hernando Rico began his musical studies at the conservatory of his hometown, Valladolid (Spain), and later continued his training in Bratislava (Slovakia). At the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU), he earned his Master’s degree specializing in Orchestral Conducting, Opera Conducting, and Piano Accompaniment, having the honor of being invited to conduct the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra for his graduation concert.

During his formative years, he studied under some of the region's most influential conductors, including Bystrík Režucha (Slovak Philharmonic), Róbert Stankovský (Radio Symphony Orchestra), and Viktar Málik (Vienna State Opera). Furthermore, he completed his doctoral studies (Ph.D.) at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, supported by a scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an institution where he also served as a lecturer in the Department of Music Theory.

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The Bratislava Symphony Orchestra and Recording Legacy

Maestro Hernando is the founder and music director of the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra (BSO), an ensemble with which he has established himself as an indisputable leader in the international music recording industry. His versatility has led him to conduct more than 900 recordings, ranging from contemporary music to film scores, many of which have been honored with prestigious international awards.

He has collaborated with major record labels such as Universal, Warner Music, Sony Music, and Azteca Music, providing services to clients from Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Finland, and China. Among his career highlights is the BSO's participation in the 2011 International Festival of Music, Theatre and Dance, where the orchestra performed two highly acclaimed concerts: one dedicated to film music and the other to Zarzuela and Spanish dance.

His extensive experience in cinema has led him to record for world-renowned composers such as Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, and Brian Tyler, as well as prominent Spanish composers like Roque Baños and Joan Valent. In the realm of popular music and entertainment, he has conducted projects alongside music legends such as Michel Legrand, Raphael, and Rocío Jurado, always at the helm of the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.

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Career as Guest Conductor

His prestige has allowed him to take the podium of the leading ensembles in Eastern and Central Europe, having conducted renowned orchestras such as the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Košice State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the Camerata Slovaca, and the Capella Istropolitana. Adding to this solid track record in the region is his prominent presence in the Czech Republic, where he has led the Brno State Opera Orchestra, solidifying his reputation as a benchmark conductor in the Central and Eastern European musical landscape.

In Spain, he has been invited to conduct the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra (OSPA), the Extremadura Orchestra (OEX), the Castile and León Symphony Orchestra (OSCyL), and the Real Filharmonía de Galicia. Additionally, his connection with the Slovak National Opera as a guest conductor stands out, alongside his highly applauded direction of the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s concerts (2013–2014) at the National Theatre Brno. In the operatic field, he boasts a broad repertoire that includes titles such as L'elisir d'amore, Don Giovanni, The Bartered Bride (Prodaná nevěsta), Le nozze di Figaro, and I Puritani.

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Promotion of Spanish Repertory and Collaborations

Throughout his career, David Hernando Rico has worked tirelessly to introduce and promote Spanish and Latin American repertoire in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Driven by this mission, he has spearheaded world premieres, including the oratorio Tanausú by Canarian composer Paco Viciana (in collaboration with the Slovak National Radio), and the version for choir and orchestra of the Misa Criolla, published by the Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina.