News

The Philadelphia Orchestra announced today the appointment of Nathalie Stutzmann as its new Principal Guest Conductor. She takes up the new position in Philadelphia for three years commencing September 2021.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome Nathalie Stutzmann to the Philadelphia Orchestra family,” said Yannick Nezet-Seguin. “Nathalie is a kindred spirit whose background as a contralto and work as an opera conductor have influenced her dynamic and highly successful career. She brings a depth of artistry, charismatic musicianship, and creativity to her work, making her an ideal collaborator. I look forward to watching her connection with the musicians of the Orchestra grow even deeper in the coming years and to experiencing her contributions to our artistic vision.”

“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Nathalie Stutzmann through this important appointment,” said President and CEO Matias Tarnopolsky. “Anyone who has experienced her performances with the Orchestra knows that we have an exciting three years ahead. We look forward to an ever deeper exploration of her singular artistry and inspiring musicianship here at home, on the Digital Stage, in our communities, and beyond.”

“It is a privilege and an honor to become the principal guest conductor of the iconic Philadelphia Orchestra—outstanding music-making, heartfelt playing, and emotional moments inhabit my soul every time I think about those marvelous musicians,” said Stutzmann. “I have always felt close to Yannick Nézet-Séguin and I am thrilled that through this new role I have the opportunity to work under the same roof. The teamwork off stage is just as important to the success of a partnership with an orchestra as what happens on stage, and I am also very much looking forward to the teamwork with Matías Tarnopolsky, Vice President of Artistic Planning Jeremy Rothman, and the whole management team. In these deeply uncertain and stressful times of pandemic, the strength of our partnerships is more important than ever, and it is so exciting to embark on this next stage of our relationship as we navigate these tricky times together. I look forward to spending more time in Philadelphia with my new American family, and we cannot wait to share more wonderful music with you.”

Photo: Jeff Fusco

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes Nathalie Stutzmann as its 2019/20 Artist-in-Residence. The residency will showcase Nathalie’s multi-faced musicianship with projects as both conductor and contralto. She will perform a wide range of repertoire including Schumann, Strauss, Mozart and Bach.

On August 7 2019, Nathalie Stutzmann makes her conducting debut at the BBC Proms, leading Brahms’ Tragic Overture, Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde and Mozart’s Requiem. The performance, hosted at London’s Royal Albert Hall, will be live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and broadcast on BBC Four August 11.

The Légion d’Honneur is France’s highest honours, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Nathalie Stutzmann comments on her Facebook page:
“I am deeply happy and touched to have been appointed to the Légion d’Honneur this January 1, 2019.
As the Légion d’Honneur is France’s highest honours, I am particularly proud to be admitted as a conductor and singer in this order of merit founded more than two centuries ago.
This distinction is also an encouragement to always serve music with passion and share it with the greatest number.”

“Le véritable maître de la soirée n’est autre que Nathalie Stutzmann, à la tête d’un Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France littéralement emporté par l’engagement de sa direction fougueuse et précise, sensible et contrastée. La contralto (qui chante toujours) devenue chef d’orchestre avec la création de son ensemble, Orfeo 55, possède en outre une belle gestuelle alliant souplesse, puissance et amplitude. Sans aucun doute le meilleur atout de cette soirée qui a porté le public au bord de l’ovation, confortant Jean-Louis Grinda dans le bien-fondé de son défi.”

“The real “master” of the evening is none other than Nathalie Stutzmann, at the head of a Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra literally carried away by the engagement of her spirited, precise, sensitive and contrasting direction. The contralto (she still sings) who became a conductor with the creation of her orchestra Orfeo 55, also has a beautiful gesture combining flexibility, power and amplitude. Undoubtedly the best asset of this evening which brought the audience to the brink of ovation, reinforcing Jean-Louis Grinda in the legitimacy of his challenge.”

Marie-Aude Roux, Le Monde

“La révélation de la soirée est pour nous sans conteste la direction de Nathalie Stutzmann, que nous voyions diriger pour la première fois. (…) la chef a tout pour elle : une technique appréciable dans une oeuvre où il faut coordonner un orchestre wagnérien, des choeurs considérables et des fanfares de coulisse, une gestuelle fluide et souple, un véritable lyrisme.”

“The revelation of the evening is without any doubt the direction of Nathalie Stutzmann, whom we saw conducting for the first time. (…) the conductor has it all: an appreciable technique in a work where it is necessary to coordinate a Wagnerian orchestra, considerable choirs and fanfares behind the scenes, a fluid and flexible gesture, a true lyricism.”

Christian Merlin, Le Figaro

See the full press review of Mefistofele at this link.