On June 18, the Orchestre National de France has named Italian conductor Riccardo Muti as its Conductor Emeritus.

The new title recognizes Muti’s commitment and decades-long relationship with France’s oldest symphony orchestra.

The recognition was also given to the legendary conductor the same day Muti returned to the podium of the Orchestre National de France for a program featuring music by Verdi, Catalani and Tchaikovsky.

According to Radio France, the title acknowledges a partnership that has spanned nearly half a century and left a lasting mark on generations of musicians within the orchestra.

In a statement, Michel Orier, Director of Music and Creation at Radio France said, “Riccardo Muti is far more than a guest conductor. He is a model for future generations and, in many respects, a guiding figure for the orchestra’s musicians.”

The relationship between Muti and the Orchestre National de France began in 1980 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and over decades he became one of the ensemble’s most frequent collaborators.

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