Kent Nagano may be shuffling his European commitments, but Montreal will remain his orchestral home base until 2020, according to a contract extension announced today.
Interestingly, there was no pressing need to make this announcement, given that Nagano was already committed to the Montreal Symphony until 2016.
Since Nagano officially took over as music director in 2006, the orchestra has launched several popular initiatives, including a summertime music marathon using all of the spaces at its Place des Arts home in downtown Montreal, having season-opening concerts shown on big screens in the plaza outside.
The orchestra has also made several commercial recordings during Nagano’s tenure.
Most importantly, the orchestra was able to move into a new, dedicated concert hall, the Maison symphonique. The final piece in that hall’s construction, a new Casavant Frères pipe organ. The Grand Orgue Pierre Béique will be officially inaugurated on May 28.
“I’ve had the good fortune in recent years to be part of a great period in the Orchestra’s history. I hope to help create and develop other important projects during my extended tenure as music director, which will raise the OSM’s profile both in Montreal and beyond,” said Nagano at the press conference.
John Terauds