For Immediate Release
CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NAMES CRISTIAN MĂCELARU AS NEXT MUSIC DIRECTOR
CINCINNATI, OH (April 24, 2024)—The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), the oldest and first orchestra in Ohio, has appointed conductor Cristian Mӑcelaru as the 14th Music Director in the Orchestra’s 129-year history, succeeding Louis Langrée. Mӑcelaru will begin his five-year term as Music Director in the 2024-25 season, serving as Music Director Designate in the first year of his term.
Grammy Award-winning conductor Cristian Mӑcelaru is currently the Music Director of the Orchestre National de France; Artistic Director of the George Enescu Festival and Competition in Bucharest, Romania; and Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester in Cologne, Germany, where he will serve through the 2024-25 season and continue as Artistic Partner for the 2025-26 season. In the United States, Mӑcelaru serves as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Interlochen Center for the Arts’ World Youth Symphony Orchestra and Music Director and Conductor of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, California. Born in Romania and educated in the United States, he received training at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, followed by the University of Miami and Rice University, before becoming a naturalized American citizen in 2019.
“We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Cristian Mӑcelaru as the Orchestra’s next Music Director,” said Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Board Chair Dianne Rosenberg. “In addition to his exceptional artistry, collaborative spirit and strong leadership of orchestras around the world, including in the United States, Cristian understands and embraces the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s vision to become the most relevant orchestra in America. We look forward to the CSO’s bright future under Cristian’s leadership.”
“I am overjoyed and humbled by the opportunity to become Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra,” said Mӑcelaru. “The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has consistently upheld a well-proven standard of artistic excellence and innovation, in combination with a unique focus on the community it serves. The invitation to lead the superb musicians who form this Orchestra, building an even stronger legacy together, is only enhanced by the warmth and closeness of the community that I’ve experienced in Cincinnati. It is with deep respect to my predecessors and commitment to the Orchestra’s future that I look forward to sharing the wonderful music we make with the greater Cincinnati community and the world.”
Through his titled positions, Mӑcelaru has catalyzed partnerships and artistic collaborations on an international level. As Music Director of Orchestre National de France and Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester, he regularly appears at the music capitals of Europe, such as Berlin, Paris and Vienna, and works with top soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Itzhak Perlman, Daniil Trifonov, Julia Fischer and Renaud Capuçon. Further embracing the universal language of music across continents, Măcelaru recently completed a tour in China with the WDR Sinfonieorchester and will take Orchestre National de France on a tour of South Korea and China in 2025.
A champion of commissioning and premiering the music of today, Mӑcelaru has commissioned premieres from 52 composers across his titled positions in Paris, Cologne and Cabrillo. This illustrious group of composers includes Wynton Marsalis, Tan Dun, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jennifer Higdon, Jake Heggie, Nico Muhly, Sean Shepherd and Gabriella Smith.
Mӑcelaru has recorded on all major labels, including Deutsche Grammophon, Decca Classics, Sony Classical and Warner Classics and has just released an all-Enescu cycle on Deutsche Grammophon. He won a Grammy Award for conducting the 2019 Decca Classics recording of Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto with Nicola Benedetti and The Philadelphia Orchestra.
An educator at heart, Mӑcelaru is devoted to broadening orchestral audiences through music education. He dedicates significant time to mentoring young musicians through the Cabrillo Conductors/Composers Workshop, which brings together members of the orchestra and leading faculty with early career conductors and composers; a community-based approach to arts and cultural education at the Interlochen Center for the Arts; annual conducting masterclasses in Timișoara with the Romanian Chamber Orchestra; a new series of concerts for children as part of an initiative to enrich the George Enescu Festival; a week-long residency as part of the 2024 Enescu Competition of masterclasses and public discussions, meant to bring a more intense focus on arts education; and this season, a residency at the Kronberg Academy in Germany.
Motivated by a deep commitment to building community through the arts, Măcelaru has led a number of initiatives to encourage greater equality, diversity and inclusivity across the orchestral landscape. As Artistic Director of Romania’s George Enescu Festival and Competition, he has increased invitations for women conductors, dedicated programs for families and mental and physical well-being sessions for Competition participants. Through a historic collaboration with organizations including Romania’s Special Olympics, Măcelaru and the Festival are striving to modernize Romania’s concert halls to make them more accessible.
As the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s next Music Director, Mӑcelaru will join a distinguished line of conductors including Frank Van der Stucken (1895-1907), Leopold Stokowski (1909-1912), Ernst Kunwald (1912-1917), Eugène Ysaÿe (1918-1922), Fritz Reiner (1922-31), Eugene Goossens (1931-1946), Thor Johnson (1947-1958), Max Rudolf (1958-1970), Thomas Schippers (1970-1977), Michael Gielen (1980-1986), Jesús López Cobos (1986-2001), Paavo Järvi (2001-2011) and Louis Langrée (2013-2024), who will become Music Director Laureate at the conclusion of his tenure.
“We are excited to welcome Cristian Mӑcelaru as our next Music Director,” said Stefani Matsuo, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster and one of five musicians on the Music Director Search Committee. “Each interaction with Cristian, on and off the stage, has been warm and collaborative, like reuniting with an old friend. He has a deep knowledge of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s legacy and a clear vision for music and its place in a vibrant arts community like Cincinnati’s. He stretches us as musicians, drawing out new dimensions of sounds and textures, and inspires us as people. There’s a genuine admiration and mutual respect between the CSO musicians and Cristian, and it’s clear we are going to be great partners in this next chapter of our story.”
Mӑcelaru first conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for Cincinnati Opera’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore in 2015. He later made his Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra debut on the January 22 and 23, 2016 subscription program, conducting the world premiere of Gunther Schuller’s Symphonic Triptych alongside Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Julia Wolfe’s riSE and fLY, featuring percussionist Colin Currie. In April 2018, Mӑcelaru returned to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to lead a subscription program of Leonard Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from On the Town, Bernstein’s Divertimento for Orchestra, Charles Ives’ Three Places in New England and George Gershwin’s Concerto in F Major for Piano and Orchestra with Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Mӑcelaru most recently conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in February 2024, when he led a program that included Lutosławski’s Cello Concerto, featuring Kian Soltani, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11.
“Cristian’s rehearsals and performances of the Lutosławski and Shostakovich were real stand outs,” said Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Principal Timpani and member of the Music Director Search Committee Patrick Schleker. “He is a natural leader who can seamlessly transition from moments of intense focus to moments of levity, and he achieved excellent results with great efficiency.”
“Cristian listens and hears everything, and it was evident in rehearsals. He knew what he wanted, and from the moment he stepped on the podium, he exuded a reassuring confidence and emotional sensitivity that carried us along with him,” said Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Principal Horn and member of the Music Director Search Committee Elizabeth Freimuth. “The performances in February were captivating from beginning to end and pure joy to perform.”
As Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Designate, Mӑcelaru returns on February 8 & 9, 2025 to conduct the Orchestra in Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World; Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Ernest Chausson’s Poème, both with violin soloist Randall Goosby; and Wynton Marsalis’ “Southwestern Shakedown” from Blues Symphony.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Board Members and Co-Chairs of the Music Director Search Committee Peter Landgren and Sheila Williams said: “Cristian Mӑcelaru is intense in terms of his work and passionate about music and its ability to transcend almost any boundary. His passion is tempered by an open and adventurous spirit that radiates through every interaction whether on or off the stage. There is a palpable warmth whenever he is on the podium, and that energy has lasting power that remains with you long after a performance.”
“Cristian Mӑcelaru is an extraordinary musician, conductor and community builder who understands the power of music to change lives,” said CSO President & CEO Jonathan Martin. “It’s been inspiring to witness his talent and immediate connection with our musicians and audiences, and there is no question in my mind that Cristian will build upon the great work of his predecessors and take the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra into an exciting new era of music-making and international stature while maintaining a deep commitment to serving the entire Cincinnati community.”
Co-chaired by Landgren and Williams, the Music Director Search Committee was comprised of CSO musicians, CSO Board members and volunteer leaders from the community.
CRISTIAN MĂCELARU
Grammy Award-winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru is the Music Director Designate of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a post that commences in the 2024-25 season. He leads his inaugural season as Music Director in 2025-26. Măcelaru holds the titles of Artistic Director of the George Enescu Festival and Competition, Music Director of the Orchestre National de France, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Interlochen Center for the Arts’ World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Music Director and Conductor of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester in Cologne, Germany, where he will serve through the 2024-25 season and continue as Artistic Partner for the 2025-26 season.
In his inaugural season as Artistic Director at the 2023 George Enescu Festival, Măcelaru led the George Enescu Philharmonic, WDR Sinfonieorchester and Orchestre National de France alongside the Romanian Youth Orchestra. The 2023 festival presented more than 100 concerts in six separate series spanning four weeks in five different venues. Some 3,500 guest artists took part, including Martha Argerich, Gautier Capuçon, Yuja Wang, Zubin Mehta, Klaus Mäkela and Sir Simon Rattle. Performances included 39 Enescu compositions, as well as Romanian premieres from composers Tan Dun, John Adams, Jörg Widmann and others. Orchestras from 16 different countries participated, including the Vienna Philharmonic, London Symphony and Concertgebouworkest. In 2024, Măcelaru serves as Artistic Director of the festival’s sister event, the George Enescu International Competition for young artists in Bucharest, Romania, where he also leads masterclasses in conducting.
During the 2023-24 season, Măcelaru tours to China with the WDR Sinfonieorchester and with the Orchestre National de France to major cities in Austria and Spain, including Vienna, Madrid and Barcelona. Additional highlights included Măcelaru’s debuts with the Philharmonia and London Philharmonic Orchestras and return engagements with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Măcelaru’s previous seasons include European engagements with the Concertgebouworkest, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Staatskapelle Berlin and Budapest Festival Orchestra. In North America, he has led the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and The Cleveland Orchestra. Măcelaru maintains an especially close collaboration with the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he previously held the position of Conductor-in-Residence for three seasons. Măcelaru has conducted more than 150 performances with the orchestra since his debut in April 2013.
He is equally at home as a conductor of opera, including productions of Don Giovanni with the Houston Grand Opera and Madama Butterfly with Opera Națională București.
Măcelaru has released an array of albums including the complete symphonies of Saint-Saëns on Warner Classics with the Orchestre National de France as well as albums featuring works by Bartók and Dvořák on Linn Records with the WDR Sinfonieorchester. His most recent Linn Records album, Brahms: Piano Concertos with Simon Trpčeski and the WDR Sinfonieorchester, was featured in Classic FM’s November 2023 “Album of the Week” as well as BBC Music Magazine’s January 2024 “Concerto Choice.” His highly anticipated recording of Enescu’s Symphonies 1-3 and the composer’s two Romanian Rhapsodies with the Orchestre National de France was released in April 2024 on Deutsche Grammophon.
In 2020, Măcelaru received a Grammy Award for conducting the Decca Classics recording of Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto with Nicola Benedetti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His international career was launched in 2012 when he was asked to step in for Pierre Boulez with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. During that same year, he received the Solti Emerging Conductor Award, followed by the Solti Conducting Award in 2014.
He also makes a great effort to open classical music to a broader audience through accessibility and education. In his role as Chief Conductor with the WDR Sinfonieorchester, he created the ensemble’s Kurz und Klassic program, in which he shares personal insight into each of the major compositions chosen for performance. This video series has built a significant following, a testament to Măcelaru’s continued impact in bringing audiences closer to the music. With the Orchestre National de France, he created a new series of concerts, L’œuvre augmentée, conceived to deepen patrons’ appreciation of the music by offering insights into the themes and backgrounds of the works presented. Most recently, in his Artistic Director role with the George Enescu Festival and Competition, Măcelaru has created a new series of concerts for children as part of an initiative to enrich and modernize the festival. Emphasizing contemporary compositions, these programs enhance listeners’ appreciation of the music while promoting social values of equality, empowerment and diversity. He has also increased invitations for women conductors and implemented mental and physical well-being sessions for Competition participants. Through a historic collaboration with organizations including Romania’s Special Olympics, Măcelaru and the Festival are striving to modernize Romania’s concert halls to make them more accessible.
With the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Măcelaru has helped nurture the collaborative spirit underlying the festival’s core mission. Using his leadership role as a platform for engagement, he has brought artists, audience members, and festival executives into a shared creative process through open rehearsals and interaction with the composers in residence. Through the Cabrillo Emerging Black Composers Prize, Măcelaru and Cabrillo have partnered with the Emerging Black Composers Project, a ten-year commitment to spotlight early-career Black American composers and their music.
A champion of commissioning and premiering the music of today, Mӑcelaru has commissioned premieres from 52 composers across his titled positions in Paris, Cologne and Cabrillo. This illustrious group of composers includes Wynton Marsalis, Tan Dun, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jennifer Higdon, Jake Heggie, Nico Muhly, Sean Shepherd and Gabriella Smith.
Măcelaru devotes significant time to mentoring young musicians in his capacity as an educator, continuing the great legacy of the Cabrillo Conductors/Composers Workshop that brings together the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra and leading faculty with early career conductors and composers for a professional training program focused on the creation and performance of new music. He also holds annual conducting masterclasses in Timisoara with the Romanian Chamber Orchestra and each year calls for scores from young Romanian composers. More than 40 compositions thus far have been written through this initiative. This season, Măcelaru will also work with young musicians during his residency at the Kronberg Academy in Germany.
Măcelaru was born in Timișoara, Romania and comes from a musical family. As the youngest of ten children, all of whom received instrumental lessons at an early age, Măcelaru excelled on the violin. His studies took him from Romania to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, University of Miami in Florida and Rice University in Houston, where he studied conducting with Larry Rachleff. He then deepened his knowledge at Tanglewood Music Center and Aspen Music Festival in masterclasses with David Zinman, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Oliver Knussen and Stefan Asbury.
Măcelaru was the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Miami Symphony Orchestra and made his Carnegie Hall debut with that orchestra at the age of 19. He also played in the first violin section of the Houston Symphony for two seasons.
CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
With a legacy dating back 129 years, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is considered one of America’s finest and most versatile ensembles. In the 2025-26 season, Mӑcelaru joins the Orchestra as its 14th Music Director, after serving as Music Director Designate in the 2024-25 season, adding to the CSO’s distinguished roster of past music directors, including Leopold Stokowski, Eugène Ysaÿe, Fritz Reiner, Max Rudolf, Jesús López Cobos, Paavo Järvi and Louis Langrée. Matthias Pintscher is the Orchestra’s Creative Partner; previous artistic partners have included Lang Lang, Philip Glass, Branford Marsalis and Jennifer Higdon. The Orchestra also performs as the Cincinnati Pops, founded by Erich Kunzel in 1977 and currently led by John Morris Russell with Damon Gupton serving as Principal Guest Conductor. The CSO further elevates the city’s vibrant arts scene by serving as the official orchestra for the Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet.
The CSO has long championed the composers and music of its time and has given historic American premieres of works by Claude Debussy, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel, Béla Bartók, William Grant Still and other prominent composers. It has also commissioned many works that ultimately became mainstays of the classical repertoire, including Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. The Orchestra continues to actively commission new work, amplifying new voices from a diverse array of backgrounds.
Deeply committed to enhancing and expanding opportunities for the children of Greater Cincinnati, the Orchestra works to bring music education, in its many different forms, to as broad a public as possible. These efforts include two youth orchestras, the Nouveau Program, Musicians in Schools, the CSO Brass Institute and one of the longest running Young People’s Concerts series in the U.S., which was launched more than 100 years ago.
A leader in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the industry, the CSO was one of the first American orchestras to create a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer position on its administrative team and the first to endow the role, ensuring the absorption of best DE&I practices into every facet of the organization in perpetuity. In 2007, the CSO created the Nouveau Program, which has supported increased participation in classical music and provided equitable opportunities for music study and performance for more than 80 African American and Latine student musicians. The CSO is also an incubator for and partner to Equity Arc, a consortium of American orchestras, professional musicians and educators established to address the lack of racial equity in the classical music field by aligning resources and collaborating to strengthen the trajectory of classical instrumentalists of color at all stages of their pre-careers.
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