NDR Philharmonie Hannover Names New Chief Conductor

Russian conductor Stanislav Kochanovsky will step into the role as of 2024

Stanislav Kochanovsky has been named as the new chief conductor at the NDR Philharmonie Hannover. To succeed current chief conductor Andrew Manze, Kochanovsky will step into the role at the opening of the 2024/25 season.

Born in St. Petersburg in 1981, Kochanovsky studied at the conservatory there, and graduated with honors. At age 25 he accepted a position with the city's Mikhailovsky Theatre, where he conducted performances of more than 60 operas and ballets.

Kochanovsky has appeared with orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Wiener Symphoniker, the Orchestre de Paris, the Oslo Philharmonic, and London's Philharmonia Orchestra. He has an equally flourishing career in the operatic realm, with his repertoire including more than 30 operas.

New music and music from outside of the canon both form a strong focus for Kochanovsky: he has recently led performances of lesser-known repertoire such as Ligeti’s Requiem and Kodály’s Psalmus Hungaricus, and has championed the works of living composers such as Brett Dean, Anna Thorvaldsdóttir, and Pēteris Vasks.

"It is a great pleasure and honor for me to take over the direction of the NDR Radio Philharmonic — such an excellent orchestra that ranks among the top ensembles," Kochanovsky said. "I'm excited about what we can achieve together and very much looking forward to sharing our passion for music with our audience."

"Stanislav Kochanovsky is a remarkable conductor who has made a name for himself worldwide with his outstanding musical expertise," said Joachim Knuth, NDR's Intendant. "His exceptional talent and profound knowledge of 19th- and 20th-century repertoire promise a new era for the NDR Radio Philharmonic and its audience."

"Stanislav Kochanovsky was our musicians' preferred candidate to succeed Andrew Manze. I am looking forward to this future-oriented cooperation."