Daniel Harding takes LA Philharmonic podium in classical music reshuffle
The British conductor joins the Los Angeles orchestra as part of a broader reshuffling of leadership roles at major symphonies in North America and Europe.
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Daniel Harding is stepping into the role of music director at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, part of a broader wave of high-profile appointments reshaping the classical music landscape. The British conductor, who previously held the Paris post and currently serves as a pilot with Air France and director of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, will lead the orchestra alongside a supporting structure of artistic co-pilots.
At Los Angeles, Harding will work alongside resident conductor Anna Handler, creative director Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Adams in a composing chair, and Emmanuelle Haïm as a collaborating artist specializing in 17th and 18th century repertoire. The Harding appointment follows the recent naming of Elim Chan to the San Francisco Symphony directorship — a move that sent ripples through the orchestral world.
Petr Popelka is taking the helm at the Bavarian State Opera, and Tugan Sokhiev has joined the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. The appointments represent what observers describe as a shift toward stability and established reputations in the orchestral world after a decade of more surprising, unconventional choices. All three newly appointed conductors are in their forties and have built solid professional records. The classical music world is watching whether this turn toward experienced leadership will reshape how orchestras make decisions in the years ahead.