Italian maestro Gianandrea Noseda is to take charge of Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) from 2017. He will become the seventh person to hold the role of music director in the US capital, taking over from Christoph Eschenbach.
Noseda’s appointment comes just two months after he conducted NSO in a programme of Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff which, said NSO executive director Rita Shapiro, sparked the orchestra’s board to make a move. ‘It was clear something compelling was happening on stage and both our musicians and our audiences sensed it,’ commented Shapiro. ‘We moved quickly to secure Noseda as our next music director and look forward to an exciting future together.’
51-year old Noseda, who first conducted NSO in 2011, is currently music director at Turin’s Teatro Regio, and previously worked in the same role at BBC Philharmonic. He has recorded extensively for Chandos, completing a series of Italian symphonic works for the label. In 2015 Musical America named him Conductor of the Year.
‘I am honoured to become a part of the NSO and the Kennedy Center family and look forward to a partnership that will yield great musical memories for us and our audiences,’ said the conductor.
Jeanne Ruesch, Chair of NSO board, added that, ‘Noseda brings enthusiasm and passion for exploring the power of music. For our musicians, for our audiences, for our community, he is the right choice.’
The initial contract is for five years, with 2016-17 as music director designate and then four seasons as music director. As music director Noseda will conduct twelve subscription weeks for the orchestra, with tours and special projects on top of that.