Breaking: NY Philharmonic names next chief

The orchestra board has just announced that Matías Tarnopolsky will become the New York Philharmonic’s President and CEO, effective January 1, 2025.

As foretold in slippedisc.com.

The imperative was to find an executive whoi gets along with incoming music director Gustavo Dudamel. He and Tarnopolsky, 54, have good history in Berkeley, California. No other candidate came close. You read it here first.

How Philly will apoint a replacement in the next four weeks is another matter.

Yannick will not be fobbed off with a CEO of lesser calibre. But that’s for later.

Here’s the NY Phil statement:

New York Philharmonic Board Co-Chairmen Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang today announce
that Matías Tarnopolsky will become the New York Philharmonic’s President and CEO,
effective January 1, 2025.

Tarnopolsky currently serves as president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts, following his tenure as executive and artistic director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley. He previously held top artistic posts at orchestras around the world, including as Vice President, Artistic Planning, at the New York Philharmonic, 2005–09, as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra.

New York Philharmonic Board Co-Chairmen Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang said: “Matías Tarnopolsky is a singular figure among orchestral leaders. Building on his lifelong love for our art form, he has forged impactful collaborations with orchestral musicians and dynamic artistic leaders. He is also a force for innovation who has created new ways of connecting with communities and tapping into emerging technologies. His extensive executive experience is enhanced by his time on the ground at the Philharmonic, when he oversaw artistic planning, giving him unusual insight into New York City’s vibrant cultural landscape. We know that Matías will be a visionary partner for Gustavo Dudamel as we prepare for his arrival as our next Music and Artistic Director.”

Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic’s future Music and Artistic Director, said:
“Matías combines a deeply felt love of music with an unwavering commitment to building the best possible future for our art form. With his leadership, I am confident that we will bring to life our extraordinary, shared vision for the New York Philharmonic. I vividly remember when Matías came to Caracas in 2006 and, from that moment, I knew that I had met someone who would become one of the most important leaders in our industry. Through many years of working with him in Chicago, New York, and Berkeley, I have also discovered that he is someone who understands me innately, both as a musician and as a human. We have a special chemistry, and I know he is the perfect choice for this position.”

Matías Tarnopolsky, incoming President and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, said: “To reunite with the extraordinary New York Philharmonic, as it anticipates the arrival of a visionary new artistic leader and inhabits the beautifully remade David Geffen Hall, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Gustavo Dudamel, my dear friend and musical colleague of two decades, sees music as an inspiring, essential part of the human spirit, as a force for good, and as a vital living art form for all — we share a deep belief in this urgent idea, and it is an honor to join him, the
musicians of the Philharmonic, the forward-looking Board of Directors led by Peter May and Oscar Tang, and the dedicated staff of this exceptional institution. We will rededicate ourselves to the New York Philharmonic’s contemporary place in the cultural and civic life of New York, for all New Yorkers, to create an inclusive, expansive, and joyful musical future. I am absolutely delighted to be leading the New York Philharmonic into the future to realize these ideals.”