The Italian conductor Michele Spotti has been nominated, at the young age of 29, Musical Director of Marseille’s Opera House and Philharmonic Orchestra. It was announced this morning by Marseille’s Mayor Benoît Payan and the General Manager of the Opéra de Marseille Maurice Xiberras. Spotti will take on his new role from 2023/2024 season, succeeding the current Musical Director, Lawrence Foster.

The appointment comes after Spotti’s great success with Rossini’s Guillaume Tell, which opened the 2021/2022 season of the prestigious Theatre; and the symphonic concert conducted last December that saw the Conductor leading Bruckner’s Third Symphony and Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto, with soloist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

«It’s a great honor for me to welcome this appointment: it was easy to fall in love with Marseille’s Opéra, with its orchestra, with its chorus and its staff. Marseille’s light reflects on the sound of the orchestra, also thanks to the excellent conductors who have preceded me.

The path of mutual growth will see us facing heterogeneous repertoires, both operatic and symphonic. My goal is to create an even stronger sound identity, enhancing the enormous potential of an already great ensemble. To make the Theatre an increasingly open space, I will also commit to a widespread distribution of its programs, aiming also to attract new audiences of all ages.

I will not fail to bring with me in Marseille a deep and humble dedication to study, that true element sparking curiosity and the pleasure of playing. I thank Marseille’s Mayor Benoît Payan, the Town Hall, the General Manager of the Opéra de Marseille Maurice Xiberras, and the entire Theatre» said Michele Spotti.