Simonov first conducted at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1969, and was named chief conductor of the company in February 1970,[1] the youngest chief conductor in the company's history at that time.

In 1986, he established the USSR Maly State Orchestra, and subsequently made several commercial recordings with the ensemble.

He became music director of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998.

Outside of Russia, Simonov was music director of the Belgian National Orchestra from 1994 to 2002.

This article about a Russian conductor or bandleader is a stub.