“The New York Philharmonic announced on Wednesday that it was turning to Jaap van Zweden, an intense, exacting Dutch conductor, to be its next music director and guide it through the costly renovation of its hall, two seasons of exile and, if all goes well, a triumphant return to Lincoln Center,” reports Michael Cooper in Wednesday’s (1/27) New York Times. “The appointment of Mr. van Zweden, 55, whose name is pronounced Yahp van ZVAY-den and who is currently the music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, ends nearly a year of speculation about who would succeed Alan Gilbert when he steps down from the position next year.… Mr. van Zweden will become the Philharmonic’s music director designate in the 2017-18 season, and begin his five-year contract as music director in the 2018-19 season. (Mr. van Zweden will be released a year early from his contract in Dallas, which was to have ended in 2019; his final season there will be 2017-18.)”
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has issued the following statement: “The Dallas Symphony Orchestra congratulates Jaap van Zweden on the announcement of his appointment as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic beginning in the 2018-19 season. DSO is proud to have been an integral part of Maestro van Zweden’s exciting musical journey. We look forward to continuing our artistic path together through the 2017-18 season…. Following his tenure as our Music Director, he will hold the title of Conductor Laureate of the DSO starting with the 2018-19 season and going through 2020-21, ensuring a robust conducting presence with us.”
Posted January 27, 2016
Photo of Jaap van Zweden and the New York Philharmonic by Chris Lee
