Louis Langrée to conclude his
eleven-season tenure as
Music Director at the end
of the 2023-24 season
NEXT THREE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY SEASONS WILL CELEBRATE LANGRÉE’S REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ORCHESTRA AND CINCINNATI
CINCINNATI, OH (June 16, 2021) –The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has announced that Louis Langrée will not seek to renew his contract beyond the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, his eleventh as the Orchestra’s Music Director. Since taking the helm in 2013, Louis Langrée’s tenure has been marked by bold programming including a Pelléas Trilogy; Beethoven [R]evolution including a recreation of the legendary Akademie 1808; the Concertos for Orchestra project; 125th Anniversary season programs demonstrating the Orchestra’s pioneering legacy; and initiatives including CSO Proof, the Fanfare Project, CSO Look Around, LUMENOCITY, One City/One Symphony, and MusicNOW, a collaboration with composer Bryce Dessner. Langrée led the Orchestra on European and Asian tours and Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series; garnered two Grammy Award nominations with the Orchestra for Best Orchestral Performance; appointed Matthias Pintscher as Creative Partner; and presided over the Orchestra’s year-long absence from and subsequent return to Music Hall during its major renovation. During the COVID pandemic, Langrée was a catalyst for the Orchestra’s return to the stage in the fall of 2020 with a series of digitally streamed concerts, and then in January 2021 welcoming in-person audiences to Music Hall.
Between the start of his tenure and the conclusion of the CSO’s upcoming 2021-22 season Langrée and the CSO will have commissioned or co-commissioned 36 new orchestral works and he will have conducted 30 premieres from a wide range of composers including Julia Adolphe, Daníel Bjarnason, Jennifer Higdon, Jonathan Bailey Holland, Kinds of Kings, David Lang, Missy Mazzoli, Nico Muhly, Christopher Rouse, Caroline Shaw, and Julia Wolfe. Langrée and the Orchestra also commissioned 20 composers to write solo instrument fanfares during the COVID pandemic to reflect that moment in time, including Michael Abels, Marcos Balter, Peter Boyer, Courtney Bryan, Bryce Dessner, Ted Hearne, Tyshawn Sorey, Georgia Stitt and Du Yun, whose new works were recorded by CSO musicians and premiered on the Orchestra’s website.
To date, Langrée has appointed 17 of the Orchestra’s musicians, including hiring Stefani Matsuo as the Orchestra’s first female Concertmaster. Other appointments include Associate Principal Percussion, Associate Principal Second Violin, First Assistant Concertmaster, Assistant Principal Horn, Principal Tuba, Principal Clarinet, Second/Assistant Principal Trombone, Principal Bassoon, Second Flute, Second Oboe, three section violists, two section violins, and a section cellist. In the coming season, there will be auditions for Associate Principal Timpani, Associate Concertmaster, Associate Principal Flute, Piccolo, and Section Bass. Langrée has also worked closely with the CSO/CCM Diversity Fellows, mentoring them individually and welcoming them to perform within the Orchestra.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision to make because this Orchestra and the Cincinnati community have such a special place in my heart. But to keep the Orchestra fresh, relevant and vital, new leadership with other perspectives is necessary,” said Louis Langrée. I am deeply committed to making this announcement now to ensure a smooth and harmonious transition to my successor.
As I reflect on the last eight years, I am impressed by what we have accomplished together: LUMENOCITY, OneCityOneSymphony, the Pelléas Trilogy, Concertos for Orchestra project, Brahms Fest, MusicNOW collaborations, Beethoven (R)evolution cycle - including the unforgettable Akademie concert, dozens of new commissions, two Grammy nominations for "Best Orchestral Performance," Music Hall’s renovation,125th anniversary season celebrations, international tours, an appearance at Lincoln Center, working with the Diversity Fellows, countless concerts, galas, events, community engagement concerts, social media videos, the list goes on.
We have three more years together and I am excited for what is yet to come! Our plan is to pull out all the stops to imagine, create, innovate, and generate fresh experiences. Beyond that, I look forward to visiting Cincinnati often to guest conduct the Orchestra and to reunite with musicians and audiences.”
CSO President & CEO Jonathan Martin remarked, “The next three seasons will be very special as we thank Louis Langrée for his remarkable work with the Orchestra and his devotion to our city. We have been the fortunate beneficiaries of his deep commitment to music and to sharing it as widely as possible and look forward to a long relationship with him well past his tenure.”
The CSO is forming a search committee comprised of individuals from the board, CSO musicians, and administrative staff.