IMG Artists is delighted to announce that conductor Thomas Dausgaard has been named the next Music Director of the Seattle Symphony. The Danish conductor will assume the role from the 2019/2020 season and will succeed current Music Director Ludovic Morlot whose tenure concludes after the 2018/19 season.
Dausgaard made his debut with the Seattle Symphony in 2003 and has served as its Principal Guest Conductor since 2014. Additionally, he is Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra (becoming Conductor Laureate from 2019), Honorary Conductor of the Orchestra della Toscana (ORT), and Honorary Conductor of the Danish National Symphony, having previously served as its Principal Conductor from 2004–2011.
Of his recent performances with the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Times has written: “The results are thrilling, with completely involved musicians playing for an unusually attentive audience, and a conductor who is a passionate advocate for music that is unapologetically beautiful,” and “You can tell by the wild cheering emanating from Benaroya Hall: Thomas Dausgaard is back in town.” Dausgaard’s and the Seattle Symphony’s recent live recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 10 has been justly praised, and was nominated this year for a Gramophone Award.
Commenting on his appointment, Dausgaard said: “Making music with the Seattle Symphony is very special to me. Their inspiring artistry fuses generosity, team spirit, devotion and abandon. The orchestra is supported by an equally passionate board and administration, as well as a tremendous audience in the beautiful and acoustically stunning Benaroya Hall. I love the city of Seattle and the great natural beauty of this magical part of the world. So it is with deeply felt joy and honor that I look forward to becoming Music Director of the Seattle Symphony. My warmest thanks to my distinguished predecessors who took the orchestra to its present excellence — and to everybody now asking me to take the Seattle Symphony into the future.”
For the Seattle Symphony’s full press release, please click here
