Orchestre National de France | News Music & Opera

Wagnerian Reign Ends for Philippe Jordan at Wiener Staatsoper

admin_mowp — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:31:06 +0000

He announced it back in 2022. Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan will not renew his prestigious contract as Music Director of the Wiener Staatsoper, following deep disagreements with Bogdan Roščić, the General Director of the renowned Austrian opera house.

Just weeks before Jordan’s departure, after serving since 2020, the news takes on a very real turn as he bids farewell with performances of Tannhäuser, Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle, and the final notes of Götterdämmerung, marking the end of an important chapter.

Philippe Jordan will then return to Paris, where he is set to become Music Director of the Orchestre National de France in 2027.

A passionate interpreter of Wagner, the former Music Director of the Paris Opera has never hidden his visceral attachment to the composer of Bayreuth, describing his music as “elemental, filled with a raw energy, which at first glance seems simple but goes incredibly deep, where emotion guides reason and the narrative is elevated by the music.”

Five masterpieces by the German Romantic genius will be performed from 22 May to 28 June 2025 at the Vienna State Opera, including Tannhäuser from 22 May to 4 June, Das Rheingold from 28 May to 20 June, Die Walküre from 2 to 22 June (already sold out), Siegfried from 8 to 25 June, and finally Götterdämmerung from 15 to 28 June 2025.

On stage, the great Wagnerian voices take centre stage, with tenor Andreas Schager—a key figure in the repertoire—starring in Siegfried, Götterdämmerung, and Die Walküre, alongside Anja Kampe as Brünnhilde and the powerful Simone Schneider, stepping in for new mother Lise Davidsen as Sieglinde. The production by Sven-Eric Bechtolf is a revival of the cycle created over several seasons between 2007 and 2009.

In Tannhäuser, rising star Clay Hilley takes the title role, partnered by the fiery Venus of Ekaterina Gubanova and the noble Elisabeth of Malin Byström. However, French baritone Ludovic Tézier, originally cast as Wolfram von Eschenbach, will not take part in the production and is replaced by Martin Gantner.

A blazing month of June awaits at the Wiener Staatsoper, where, between the fire of the Valkyries and the twilight of the gods highlighted by Philippe Jordan, this Wagnerian immersion is sure to be a major event.

TO ATTEND ONE OF THE FIVE OPERAS IN VIENNA, CLICK HERE!

Philippe Jordan – c – Christian Michelines

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Philippe Jordan Honors France

admin_mowp — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:00:26 +0000

The twelve years he spent at the helm of the Paris National Opera left an indelible mark. Currently holding a head position at the Vienna State Opera, Philippe Jordan has expressed discomfort while announcing that he will not renew his term, which ends in 2025. Parisians and France eagerly awaited his return, and now it’s official! Appointed Music Director of the Orchestre National de France, Philippe Jordan—who served as Principal Conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker from 2014 to 2020—will regularly reconnect with his audience starting September 1, 2027. He has stated his intention to “strengthen the role of the Orchestre National de France as an ambassador of French musical excellence, reaching an ever-broader audience in Paris, throughout France, and internationally.” He will succeed the outstanding Cristian Măcelaru, who spent seven successful seasons leading the Orchestre National de France.

Find all the dates of Philippe Jordan

Philippe Jordan (c) Peter Mayr

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Bruckner enters the Champs-Elysées !

admin_mowp — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 08:51:05 +0000

2024 is the great Bruckner year, as the Austrian symphonist just turned 200 years old (on September 4)! Bruckner remains in the spotlight during the 2024-2025 season at the Paris’ Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, where he will be featured in four unmissable events. On November 15 at 8 p.m., the Orchestre National de France will kick things off with his famous Fourth Symphony (the Romantic) conducted by Andris Poga.

Then, on January 16, 2025, the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris will follow with its new musical director. Thomas Hengelbrock, well-acquainted with the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, will conduct the Sixth Symphony, the only one of Bruckner’s orchestral works never revised.

A highlight of every season at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the Wiener Philharmoniker will perform in Paris the next day, January 17, conducted by the legendary Zubin Mehta. The grandiose Ninth and unfinished final symphony is on the program. Finally, the dynamic Yannick Nézet-Séguin will close the mini cycle with the Rotterdam Philharmonisch Orkest on March 23, 2025, performing the Third Symphony, another masterpiece by the Master.

To book your tickets for the concerts of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, click there!

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées et Bruckner © Pline

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A Parisian conductor in Cologne

admin_mowp — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 09:00:08 +0000

The brilliant conductor Marie Jacquot becomes the new Principal Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester in Cologne from the 2026/27 season. At just 34, she already has an impressive career ahead of her, as the current Music Director of the Kongelige Teater (Denmark’s Royal Opera) is also the first female guest conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker. At the WDR Sinfonieorchester, she succeeds Cristian Macelaru, also Music Director of the Orchestre National de France, who is better known in Paris than Orchestre National de France despite being born there. Let’s hope that this high-profile post will enable her to be invited more often to her native country, where she is still all too rare.

Discover all upcoming performances featuring Marie Jacquot

Marie Jacquot © Werner Kmetitsch

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Christian brings Daniil and Xavier

admin_mowp — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:00:12 +0000

Under the leadership of its conductor Cristian Măcelaru, the Orchestre National de France is going on a European tour from 26 November to 8 December 2022 with works by Ravel, Scriabin, Glière, Saint-Saëns and Franck.

Two great artists have been invited to join them. First, Daniil Trifonov will perform Scriabin‘s Piano Concerto, and then Xavier de Maistre will perform Glière‘s Harp Concerto. The orchestra is scheduled to perform in Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Erlangen, Frankfurt and Vienna.

Find all the dates of Daniil Trifonov

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Anticipated nominations in France

admin_mowp — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 06:00:38 +0000

After the anticipated nomination of Alexander Neef, the new director of the Opéra national de Paris, it is now the turn of the Orchester National de France to announce the arrival of its new music director, Cristian Macelaru at the begining of 2020-2021 season.

The conductor who succeeds Emmanuel Krivine is then in charge since this September 1, 2020!

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