France’s Opéra national de Lorraine Hires Principal Guest Conductor

The Belgian-American conductor Giulio Cilona will assume the role as of the 2024/25 concert season

Following his successful performances with the Opéra national de Lorraine Orchestra last December, Giulio Cilona will be joining the ensemble as Principal Guest Conductor from September 2024. 

At 28 years old, Cilona currently serves as Kapellmeister of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin; he has conducted numerous opera favorites, plus a new production of Puccini’s Trittico, for which he replaced Sir Donald Runnicles at short notice. Next season, he will lead the operas Der fliegende Holländer, Turandot, Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Carmen, among others.

Cilona studied conducting at the Mozarteum Universität Salzburg with Bruno Weil. In 2022, he was a prize winner at the International Opera Conducting Competition of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège. 

He is also a graduate of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, and Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, where he studied piano, conducting, and composition. With a broad interest in historical instrumental practice, he has also performed on harpsichord and organ. 

His upcoming 2024/25 season engagements include conducting the Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Cologne Opera, and Semperoper Dresden. Additionally, he will debut with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Rossini Opera Festival, and Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse.

In his new role with Opéra national de Lorraine, Cilona will be leading performances in November and December 2024 at the opera and at the Salle Poirel.

“A desire shared by the musicians of the Orchestra and the general and artistic management of the Opéra national de Lorraine has led us to entrust him with the position of First Guest Conductor for the 2024-2025 season,” reads the press release. 

“Dear friends, I’m absolutely thrilled to announce my appointment as Principal Guest Conductor at the Opéra national de Lorraine for the 2024/25 season!” Cilona posted on Facebook. “After our wonderful time with Don Pasquale last winter, I will return to Nancy next season for Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and for a new production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola. “Heartfelt thanks to Matthieu Dussouillez for his trust since day one. I’m so grateful for this chance and am so very much looking forward to these wonderful projects!!”