Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Names New Chief Conductor and Artistic Director

The Spanish conductor Josep Pons will step into the role

The Deutsche Radio Philharmonie (DRP) has announced that the Spanish conductor Josep Pons will serve as its new Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, beginning with the 2025/26 season. The DRP recently announced the program for its first season with Pons, which focuses on presenting both familiar and unfamiliar repertoire in new ways.

The season includes works by eleven female composers, including Missy Mazzoli, Cécile Chaminade, and Eun-Hwa Cho — as well as four world premiere performances. One of these is the first outing of the oratorio HILDEGARD by Roland Kunz, which focuses on the medieval polymath Hildegard von Bingen. 

Josep Pons first conducted the DRP in 2006 and has enjoyed a close relationship with the orchestra since. He is presently Music Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and Honorary Conductor of the Orquesta Nacional de España.

As guest conductor, Pons has conducted major orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, WDR Cologne, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestre de Paris, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

"I want the musical world in Berlin, Paris, or Vienna to ask: What’s happening in Saarbrücken?" Pons said. "We don’t want to change the repertoire, but the perspective on it. Classical concerts in many places have remained in the 19th century – now is the time for new thinking, for new listening."

"The DRP lies at the heart of Europe – we want to make this heart beat," he added. "Music, philosophy, sociology, art, and politics should engage in dialogue within our projects."

"With Josep Pons, a highly experienced conductor and passionate musician is taking over as chief conductor of the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie," said Martin Grasmück, Director General of Saarländischer Rundfunk.

"Audiences can look forward to beautiful, top-class concerts," added Ulla Fiebig, SWR Regional Director for Rhineland-Palatinate.