Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock to Step Down from Germany's NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra Principal Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock is set to step down at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season

It has been announced today that NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra Principal Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock is set to step down at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season.

Maestro Hengelbrock, 59, who joined the ensemble in 2011, has indicated he will return to the lead programmes on occasion - but would like to dedicate more focus to other projects.

“Thomas has decisively influenced the concert life in Hamburg and Northern Germany with creative ideas and exciting interpretations …” Orchestra spokesperson Lutz Marble has said.

A prodigy of Antal Dorati, Witold Lutoslawski and Mauricio Kagel, Maestro Hengelbrock is a former Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and the Vienna Volksoper - and has served Guest conducting positions with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and the Vienna Philharmonic.

The NDR are expected to make an announcement of a successor in coming months.