“Lahav Shani is announced today, 23 August 2016, as the next Chief Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

Shani will be 29 when he takes up the position in September 2018, making him the orchestra’s youngest ever Chief Conductor.

Shani will join the orchestra as it prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary year, and in the first five years of his tenure will work with the orchestra for an average of twelve weeks per season. He made his debut in Rotterdam in June this year as conductor and piano soloist. After this success, the members of the orchestra unanimously selected him as their new Chief Conductor. He will succeed Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

The orchestra has a tradition of searching out and developing exceptional young talent: Nézet-Séguin was 33 when he began his tenure in the role and Valery Gergiev became Principal Guest Conductor at the age of 36.

Lahav Shani said: “I am over the moon. From the first moment, I felt a rare click with this orchestra. It is so easy to communicate with these musicians, they respond to the smallest sign. Everything I ask of them, I get, and more. And they love to take risks, just like me: never play it safe, always take it to the limit. The possibilities are endless. It doesn’t get any better than that as a conductor.”

Press Release 

CR : Marco Borggreve