Lorin Maazel

Lorin Maazel became Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2002. Since then he has conducted seven World Premiere–New York Philharmonic commissions, including the Pulitzer Prize– and Grammy Award–winning On the Transmigration of Souls by John Adams, Stephen Hartke’s Symphony No. 3, and Melinda Wagner’s Trombone Concerto.

Mr. Maazel has taken the Orchestra on numerous international tours, including the historic visit to Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in February 2008— the first performance there by an American orchestra, and an event watched around the world. Other recent tours have included Asia 2008, the May 2007 tour of Europe, the November 2006 visit to Japan and Korea, the Philharmonic tour of Italy in June 2006, and the two-part 75th Anniversary European tour to 13 cities in five countries in autumn 2005.

In addition to the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Maazel is music director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, Spain. A frequent conductor on the world’s operatic stages, he returned to The Metropolitan Opera in January 2008 for the first time in 45 years to conduct Wagner’s Die Walküre.

Prior to his tenure as New York Philharmonic Music Director, Mr. Maazel served as music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1993–2002) and has held positions including music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1988–96), general manager and chief conductor of the Vienna Staatsoper (1982–84), music director of The Cleveland Orchestra (1972–82), and artistic director and chief conductor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (1965–71). He is an Honorary Member of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and an Honorary Member of the Vienna Philharmonic.