The Orchestre National de France has appointed Philippe Jordan as the next Music Director.

The conductor will take up the position in 2027 following his exit from the Wiener Staatsoper next year. He will succeed Romanian Cristian Macelaru, who will step down after seven years with the orchestra.

In an interview with Le Monde the Swiss conductor said, “After two stints in major opera houses – my 12 years at the Paris Opera followed by five years at the Vienna Opera, whose final season will come to an end in the summer of 2025 – it was obvious to me that I wanted to move into the symphonic field. As soon as I gave my first concert with the Orchestre National de France on October 3, 2022, I realized that I had found a partner that corresponded with me in its way of making music. This feeling grew even stronger when we met for the second time on October 14, 2023. I said to myself, “Finally!” Everything then followed naturally.”

Jordan was the Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris for 12 years from 2009 to 2021. He has also served as conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker from 2014 to 2020 and Chief Conductor of the Graz Opera House and the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001.