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THE SCOOP | Canadian Yannick Nézet-Séguin Lands Top Job At The Metropolitan Opera

By Michael Vincent on June 2, 2016

Yannick Nézet-Sèguin
Yannick Nézet-Sèguin

Announced today, Montreal-born Yannick Nézet-Séguin will be the next music director of New York’s Metropolitan Opera Company beginning 2020-21.

Nézet-Séguin will replace an ailing James Levine, who has, after 40 years, stepped down due to health concerns.

“Becoming the Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for me,” Nézet-Séguin said in a press-release statement. “I am truly honoured and humbled by the opportunity to succeed the legendary James Levine and to work with the extraordinary orchestra, chorus, and staff of what I believe is the greatest opera company in the world. I will make it my mission to passionately preserve the highest artistic standards while imagining a new, bright future for our art form.”

Met General Manager Peter Gelb described him as “the clear choice” and “the right artist at the right time to lead us forward into a new and what I believe will be a glorious chapter in the history of the Met.”

Levine, after describing the MET as the great artistic love of his life, added his “heartfelt congratulations” to Nézet-Séguin. “I look forward to seeing the good work continue under his watch.”

Also announced, was the renewal of Nézet-Séguin’s contract with the Philadelphia Orchestra through 2025-26. The ten-year renewal marks the extent to which he has formed close ties with the orchestra.  The famously loyal conductor also leads his hometown Orchestre Métropolitain, as well as the Rotterdam Philharmonic, a position he will resign from at the close of the 17-18 season.

Considering the relatively close proximity between New York and Philadelphia, Nézet-Séguin plans to commute between his two posts. The MET also stated that they plan to work more closely with the Philadelphia Orchestra on future artistic collaborations.

Michael Vincent
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