WNO Names Philippe Auguine Music Director Emeritus

By David Salazar

Philippe Auguin is the new Music Director Emeritus of the Washington National Opera Orchestra.

Auguin will take the post during the 2018-19 season and his position as Music Director will not be extended beyond the 2017-18 season. By the end of that very season, Auguin will have completed eight seasons with the company as its Music Director and will have conducted 17 productions, including the company’s first complete “Der Ring des Nibelungen” by Richard Wagner. He also filled 10 positions in the orchestra, including three principals, an assistant concertmaster and an assistant principal.

His first performance with the WNO Orchestra came in 2009 when he led performances of Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung.”

“We are grateful to Maestro Auguin for raising the level of our orchestra’s music making and for giving our audiences so many exciting evenings at the opera,” said WNO Executive Diretor Michael L.d Mael. “Whether in Mozart, Puccini, and especially in his beloved Wagner, Philippe has consistently brought the WNO Orchestra to new levels of excellence. We are all artistically richer for his musical leadership.”

“The artists of the WNO Orchestra and I can look back at the eight most extraordinary years. My close connection to them, as well as to the Chorus members and the two members of the Music Staff, from the very first day, never ended,” added Auguin in a press release. “I thank them all for this and for all the triumphs we celebrated together—bringing the magic of our art to the music lovers.”

 

 

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