Yannick Nézet-Séguin said it is “the fulfillment of a lifelong dream”, the announcement that he will succeed James Levine as music director of New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
“I can’t recall a day in my life when I’ve been more joyful,”
The 41 year-old Montrealer will not take over until the 2020-21 season, but will become music director designate in 2017-18. At that time, he will begin collaborating on planning the company’s schedule, which is usually happens at least five years in advance.
He will also conduct two operas per season as music director designate and five operas per season once he assumes the role.
“I can’t recall a day in my life when I’ve been more joyful,” Nézet-Séguin said today during a webstream chat with leaders of the Met.
To be “the next caretaker of the music in this house is just a dream come true,” said the young Montrealer, who was speaking from Japan, where he is currently on tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
New York and Philadelphia
And in a concurrent development, the conductor and the Philadelphia Orchestra have extended his contract with a deal keeping him in the post through 2025-26 – at least.
Just 18 months ago that his initial five-year Philadelphia contract was extended through the 2021-22 season.
Canadian tenor and radio broadcaster, Ben Heppner, in a CBC radio interview this morning, described the Met as “the high holy temple of song”.
“We’ve already got a good reputation as singers. We’ve got a good bunch of singers in the world right now,” said Heppner, who was considered one of the world’s foremost tenors before his retirement in 2014 from the opera and concert stage.
“Now, to have this very, very public, prominent position as conductor at the Met, I think it’s just the best.”
Nézet-Séguin made his Met debut conducting a new production of Bizet’s Carmen in the 2009-10 season, and returned each year since, including opening the 2015-2016 season with Otello.
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