Kent Nagano Appointed Principal Artistic Partner of Filarmonica Toscanini

Nagano will step into the role in 2025/26 for an initial term of three years

Conductor Kent Nagano has been appointed as the new Principal Artistic Partner of the Parma-based Filarmonica Toscanini. He will step into the role for the 2025/26 season, with the initial agreement covering three years.

Highlights of Nagano's first season in the role will include concerts with the pianist Maria João Pires, performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, a performance of Aziza Sadikova’s new violin concerto, and Stravinsky’s seminal Rite of Spring.

Nagano is presently General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera and Chief Conductor of the Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg, a role he has held since 2015. He will be the next Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España (OCNE) in Madrid, from September 2026.

He has been Honorary Conductor of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin since 2006, of Concerto Köln since 2019, of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 2021, and of the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester since 2023.

Nagano's discography includes recordings on the BIS, Decca, Sony Classical, FARAO Classics, Analekta, Berlin Classics, Erato, Teldec, Pentatone, Deutsche Grammophon, and Harmonia Mundi labels — and he is a three-time GRAMMY Award-winner.

"Although the orchestra and I have only met once, it was quite a strong partnership, I would say, from the very first minute," Nagano said of the orchestra. "They bring a spirit and enthusiasm, a freshness and remarkable quality to how they think and how they make music. Somehow, the value system between us seemed to align right from the beginning. That’s why I’m very much looking forward to this collaboration starting next season.

"One concert last summer was enough to forge a special connection between Maestro Nagano and our orchestra," said Ruben Jais, Managing and Artistic Director of Filarmonica Toscanini. "We immediately recognized a profound artistic synergy, inspiring us to envision a shared artistic journey. For Maestro Nagano, we have chosen a title that could describe the essence of this collaboration: dynamic, flexible, and forward-looking. Together, we are confident in our ability to explore new artistic horizons and further elevate Filarmonica Toscanini’s presence on the international music scene."