Conductor Débora Waldman Named Associate Conductor at Opéra de Dijon

The Brazilian conductor is the first woman to hold a Music Directorship at one of France's national orchestras

In her new position, French conductor Débora Waldman will lead one opera each season at the Opéra de Dijon, beginning with Verdi's Stiffelio in November 2022.

Waldman is presently the Music Director at the Orchestre National Avignon-Provence, a position she took up in September 2020. She is the first female conductor in French history to hold a permanent position at one of the national orchestras. Waldman has also recently renewed her contract in Avignon-Provence, and will continue there until at least 2026.

Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Waldman studied orchestral conducting and composition at the Universidad Católica de Argentina in Buenos Aires. She continued her studies in France with Janos Fürst, F.X. Roth, and M. Levinas at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique.

"We are pleased to announce the nomination of Debora Waldman as Associate Conductor of the Dijon Opera," wrote the Opéra de Dijon on social media.

"Music director of the Orchestre National Avignon-Provence, the Dijon public was able to discover her at the head of the Orchester Dijon Bourgogne during the opera 'Don Pasquale' by Donizetti, produced by the Dijon Opera and presented in May 2022."