“Simone Young has been appointed chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,” writes Linda Morris in Saturday’s (12/14) Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). “The Sydney-born conductor, who used to watch the orchestra’s mid-week concerts as a high school student, will lead the SSO onto the stage of the refurbished Sydney Opera House Concert Hall when she takes up the prestigious role in 2022. Young replaces David Robertson, who has vacated the position after six seasons…. Both Young and Robertson will be guest conductors for the orchestra next year…. From 2021 Young will [become] chief conductor designate…. Board chairman Terrey Arcus said the appointment came after an intensive global search and Young, who was artistic director of the Hamburg State Opera and music director of the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra for 10 years, was ‘our orchestra’s first choice.’ Young said she … had been impressed by [CEO Emma] Dunch’s strategic vision for enhancing the orchestra’s reputation and building new audiences…. Renowned for her interpretations of the great Viennese masters, Young said she intended to build bridges between Australian audiences and contemporary Australian composers…. Young will continue to conduct engagements in Europe and the U.S. throughout her Sydney tenure.”
In photo: Conductor Simone Young. Photo by Klaus Lefebvre
