Lithuanian National Symphony Hires New Principal Guest Conductor

Victorien Vanoosten will assume the role on an initial three-year contract

The appointment of the French conductor and pianist Victorien Vanoosten as Principal Guest Conductor of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) is the first time in the orchestra’s history that a guest conductor is appointed by bilateral agreement. 

Announced by the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (LNPhS), the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of LNSO will remain the same, with conductor Modestas Pitrėnas at the helm. 

Vanoosten first conducted the LNSO in 2021 at the invitation of pianist Mūza Rubackytė. This led to more appearances with the orchestra, including the opening program of the 2023 Vilnius Festival. 

During his initial three-year tenure, Vanoosten will prepare five LNSO concert programs each year and record music. 

Vanoosten’s recent highlights include his debut at the Musikverein and the Orchestre Métropolitain, plus concerts with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marseille Opera, Berlin State Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Paris Philharmonic, and the Brussels Philharmonic.

He has collaborated with artists such as Emmanuel Pahud, Bruce Liù, Lang Lang, the Jussen brothers, Gilles Apap, Patrizia Ciofi, Karine Deshayes, Rolando Villazón, and Jane Birkin.

Currently, Vanoosten is Music Director of the Neuchâtel Symphony Ensemble in Switzerland and of France's Opéra de Toulon. Previously, he was Artistic Editor of the French National Television program La boîte à musique. 

He is a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied piano with Michel Béroff. Vanoosten’s first CD was released in 2015. He also studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy, where his mentors included Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alain Altinoglu, Leif Segerstam, David Zinman, Peter Eötvös, and Pierre Boulez. 

Among his accolades include first prize at the 2016 ADAMI Competition, fellowships from the Société Génerale Mécénat Musical and the Fondation Banque Populaire, and the Order of the French Republic for his services to French culture. 

“We are very pleased with this partnership and hope that Maestro Vanoosten, who came to the attention of the international audience in 2018 when he conducted at the Staatsoper Berlin at the invitation of Daniel Barenboim and has since become the assistant of this legendary Maestro, will bring new creative winds to the LNSO’s concert activities, expand the orchestra’s repertoire and interpretative ambit, and contribute to the global promotion of the orchestra’s name,” said LNPhS Director General, Rūta Prusevičienė in the press release.