Gustavo Dudamel To Resign As The Paris Opera Music Director

The Paris Opera announces the resignation of Gustavo Dudamel as Music Director at the end of the  22/23 season for personal reasons.  

Alexander Neef, general director of the Paris Opera, acknowledges his decision and wishes to take a moment to reflect on the appointement of a new Music Director, a key position essential to guarantee the highest standards of performance.  

In a statement the fames conductor said, "It is with a heavy heart, and after long consideration, that I announce my resignation as Music Director of the Paris Opera, in order to spend more time with my family. 

It has been a privilege to share such wonderful moments with the Orchestra, Chorus, and artistic teams of Opera de Paris over the past two seasons. This is a time which I believe has changed all of us  in many unique and complex ways, and I certainly have a greater appreciation for life, and for how  art and music enriches my every day existence and that of those around us. 

I have no plans other than to be with my loved ones, to whom I am deeply grateful for helping me to  continue to be strong in my resolve to grow and remain challenged, both personally and artistically,  each and every day." 

Neef said of the departure, "I would like to thank Gustavo Dudamel whose passion and immense talent have brought so much to  the repertoire of our house. He was able to forge a special relationship with the musicians of the  Orchestra, the artists of the Chorus, the singers and the artistic teams, a relationship marked by  mutual respect and the desire to create the most beautiful performances together. The recent success of Nixon in China is one of the most striking illustrations. Gustavo Dudamel is an immense musician. I  express my deep gratitude to him for the work accomplished during his tenure, and I fully respect his  decision."

Regarding the 23/24 season, the Paris Opera will communicate more details in due time about the  projects that have been announced with the participation of Gustavo Dudamel.

Gustavo Dudamel was born in 1981 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. In 1996, at the age of 18, he was  appointed Music Director of the Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. In 2004, he  won the inaugural Bamberger Symphoniker Gustav Mahler Competition and gained international  fame. He was nominated (2007-2012) Music Director of the Gothenburg Symphony. He was then  appointed Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles philharmonic Orchestra in 2009.In 2023,  Gustavo Dudamel was appointed Music Director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra starting in  the 2026/2027 season.  

Inspired by the El Sistema programme, he founded YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) in 2007, which  has already provided 1500 young people with free instruments, intensive musical and conducting  teaching. He also founded in 2012 the Dudamel Foundation aiming to « widen access to music and  the arts for young people ».  

In 2022, he was named Officier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

Alexander Neef, General Director of the Paris Opera, appointed Gustavo Dudamel as Music Director  of the Paris Opera on April, 16th 2021, taking office on August, 1st 2021.  

During the 21/22 season, Gustavo Dudamel has conducted the inaugural concert, the ballet gala, Le  Nozze di Figaro at the Palais Garnier, Turandot at the Opéra Bastille, the symphonic concert « Ravel,  Mozart, Berlioz » at the Philharmonie de Paris and the Halle aux Grains in Toulouse. The Paris Opera  Ballet was invited by Gustavo Dudamel to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with the LA  Philharmonic Orchestra.  

During the 22/23 season, Gustavo Dudamel has conducted Tosca, Tristan and Isolde and Nixon in  China at the Opera Bastille, the symphonic concerts « Symphonie °9 » by Gustav Mahler at the  Philharmonie de Paris, at the Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona) and at the Victoria Hall (Geneva), the  « carte blanche » concert with the artists of the Academy at the Palais Garnier as well as the  symphonic concert « Messiaen, Haydn, Ravel, Strauss » at the Philharmonie de Paris.