(Credit: Dutch National Opera & Ballet)

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has named young Italian conductor Jader Bignamini as its 13th music director.

As music director, Bignamini will have much free reign — overseeing auditions, crafting programming and shaping a big-picture vision.

Bignamini will be formally introduced as the DSO’s new maestro at 5:30 p.m. today in Beacon Park, where he’ll conduct the orchestra in Gioachino Rossini’s “La Scala di Seta Overture.” He will then conduct three weeks of the 20-week classical series during the upcoming season — which was announced today — and for 12 weeks in 2021-2022.

Detroit audiences will have the opportunity to see the new DSO Maestro at the podium this weekend, Jan. 24, 25 & 26 in a previously announced conducting appearance, as he leads the DSO in Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with soloist Augustin Hadelich and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.”

“In this orchestra there are incredible musicians with humility, who are so proud to be part of the DSO. They love the challenge. With this positive energy, we can do anything,” said the new DSO Music Director in the statement.

Bignamini has recently conducted Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly” at the Metropolitan Opera House, Wiener Staatsoper, and De Nationale Opera in Amsterdam; Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” at the Oper Frankfurt; and Puccini’s  “La bohème” at the Santa Fe Opera, among others.

Bignamini’s six-year contract will begin with the 2020-2021 DSO season that commences later this year.