Breaking: Houston, we have music director

Breaking: Houston, we have music director

News

norman lebrecht

July 14, 2021

Houston Symphony has just announced Juraj Valčuha as its next Music Director, starting a year from now.

He succeeds Andrés Orozco-Estrada who has one more year to run.

Valčuha, 45, made his Houston debut in 2011 and has returned in recent seasons. A Slovak from Bratislava, he is music director of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples until the end of 2022. He lives in France.

‘We are thrilled to announce Juraj Valčuha as our next artistic leader,’ Houston Symphony CEO said John Mangum. ‘During our search for a new Music Director, we were fortunate to narrow our selection to a superb group of individuals. An incredibly accomplished conductor with precise attention to detail, Juraj stood out for his evident chemistry with Symphony musicians and his commitment to musical excellence. We know that he will build upon the work of the Music Directors before him to support the highest level of performance imaginable for our musicians. I look forward to welcoming him back to the Jones Hall stage.’

 

Comments

  • Violist says:

    Congrats. Wonderful musician. And his brother happens to be one of the best luthiers in the world today.

  • Sir David Geffen-Hall says:

    Never heard of him.

    Should they be worried?

  • V.Lind says:

    Very good grab.

  • Larry W says:

    A terrific choice. Valčuha is a consummate musician whose priorities are the music. Minnesota’s loss is Houston’s gain.

    • Minnesota says:

      Agreed. He made a big impression in guest performances here, and I had him pegged as a likely successor when Osmo departs next year.

  • NotToneDeaf says:

    Excellent – Another non-American male heading up an American orchestra. What’s that definition of insanity . . . . . ?

    • Larry W says:

      In the dictionary under Insanity, there is your picture.

      • NotToneDeaf says:

        What a wag you are, Larry W. What about my post do you disagree with? Perhaps you could make some cogent points rather than offer what you think passes as wit.

  • JEHL says:

    Wow! I can’t wait for more Beethoven, Copland, and however many other Euro-centric composers we have heard millions of times to have more exposure through the dinosaur that is the Houston slSymphony. Terrible choice continuing to show just how out of touch this decrepit institution is. Bravo!

  • Anon says:

    I was really hoping that they would choose Roderick Cox. He deserves a position like this.

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