The Finnish National Opera and Ballet has proposed Dima Slobodeniouk as its new Principal Conductor, with a four-year tenure set to run from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2030

The appointment is now contingent on a final board decision on June 10, 2026.

”Dima’s conducting at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet demonstrated exceptional musical vision, clarity, and effectiveness. In the recruitment interview, Dima also made a compelling case for his commitment to our wider mission, values, and working culture,” said Artistic Director Thomas de Mallet Burgess, per an official press release.

Slobodeniouk previously served as Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia from 2013 to 2022 and as Principal Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Sibelius Festival from 2016 to 2021. He has appeared with the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam, and many other leading ensembles.

His operatic engagements include Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 2025 and Verdi’s “Messa da Requiem” at the Finnish National Opera in 2023. His next appearance at the house will be Britten’s “Peter Grimes” in autumn 2026.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, the board voted to extend de Mallet Burgess’s tenure by three years, through July 31, 2030.

”We particularly value Thomas de Mallet Burgess’s bold, international, and forward-looking approach to repertoire planning, as well as his focus on audience engagement and accessibility. Thomas’s artistic work, most notably his direction of the opera Morgonstjärnan – The Morning Star, has also been well received. The atmosphere in rehearsals has been described as professional, encouraging, and respectful towards the artists. He is committed to developing psychological safety in a positive working environment,” added General Director Gita Kadambi.

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