Born in St Petersburg, André Anichanov studied orchestral and choral conducting at the St Petersburg State Conservatory. After winning an award in 1986 at the State Conducting Competition, he worked with a number of St Petersburg choirs and in 1989 began conducting the Mussorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre, of which he was appointed chief conductor in 1992, winning success in a number of theatre tours, to Italy, America, Japan and France. In 1991 he was appointed chief conductor and artistic director of the St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra.