Breaking: Paavo Järvi quits Paris

The following statement has been issued in the last few minutes.

MESSAGE FROM PAAVO JARVI:

Ladies and Gentlemen

By the end of August, I had to decide whether or not to renew my current contract as Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris.

This was a really difficult decision for me…. I am very fond of the Orchestre de Paris and very close to its wonderful musicians.

Over the past four years we have given many concerts … both at home in Paris and around the world.
Over the remaining two years of my contract, we have many important things still to achieve. In January we have the great honour of performing the opening concerts in the new Philharmonie in Paris and this Autumn we are touring to China where we will be one of the first foreign orchestras to appear in the new hall in the French quarter of Shanghai. We will also complete our recording of the Sibelius symphonies.

In October 2015, I start a new chapter of my life.
In addition to continuing my 20 year relationship with Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, I take up the position of Music Director of NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo.I feel that I must devote time and attention to this new post.

So with a heavy heart I have decided that I will not renew my contract with Orchestre de Paris when it expires at the end of summer 2016.

Paavo Jarvi

UPDATE: Commentary here.