Romanian conductor Cristian Macelaru has been appointed the musical director of the Orchestre National de France in what French newspaper Le Figaro called “une surprise totale!’
Macelaru, who is considered a rising star in the conducting world will take over from French conductor Emmanuel Krivine, who has run the orchestra for four seasons.
“I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to joining the ONF,” he said in a Tweet.
“From the onset of the first rehearsal, we both understood each other’s desire for a more refined music making structured on the basis of the deep understanding of the composer’s intent.”
Le Figaro quotes the musical director of Radio France, Michel Orier, saying: “It was love at first sight last autumn, when he came to lead one of the programs in the festival, a very modern, contemporary program,”
Le Figaro said: “Il a 39 ans et c’est… une surprise totale!”
“After this concert, the musicians wanted him to work again with him on the main elements in their repertoire, French music and major pieces.”
Macelaru returned in May and worked on Ravel’s Waltz, and Dvorak’s 9th Symphony.
Macelaru, 39, was born in Timisoara and studied the violin. At 19, he became the youngest at the Miami Symphonic Orchestra. He then began to focus on conducting.
In 2011, Macelaru became assistant conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He won the Solti conducting award in 2014.
He had his first concert at Carnegie Hall in 2015. He is the musical director of the Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival and the principle conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne.
