Kochanovsky becomes Chief Conductor of the NDR Radiophilharmonie

A standing ovation even before starting a new job: Stanislav Kochanovsky becomes the new chief conductor of the NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Beginning with the 2024/2025 season, the 42-year-old Russian conductor will be Andrew Manze's successor, NDR CEO Joachim Knuth said on Monday in Hannover to applause from the orchestra's musicians. — You were the preferred candidate for the orchestra.

In recent years the conductor has made a splash in the music world. He has worked, for example, with the Zurich Opera House and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and has received invitations as a guest conductor from the Royal Concertgebouw, the Orchester de Paris and the Philharmonia London. In 2023 he made his debut with the Cleveland and Washington Orchestra. Regular guest at the Verbier Festival.

The 42-year-old, who will initially lead the NDR Philharmonic for three years, announced that he would expand the French and Russian repertoire and develop the orchestra's "own, unique voice and timbre." He also wants to put unknown and forgotten works of famous composers into the repertoire and open doors for young composers: "We are not a museum." He is also planning more programs for youth.

Kochanovsky made his debut with the NDR Radio Philharmonic in June 2022. According to the information, he inspired the musicians of the orchestra with his "sensual and incendiary conducting." The conductor emphasized that the chemistry with the musicians was right - and hoped for a long relationship: "Time will show what we can achieve together." In February 2024 he will conduct the Radiophilharmonie in Hamburg, and a month later in Hannover. The conductor and the orchestra will perform in Lübeck, Wolfsburg and Wismar in November and December this year.

© dpa-infocom