(Credit: Sorin Popa)

The Orchestre National de France has announced that conductor Cristian Măcelaru will take over as a Music Director starting 2021-22 season.

The orchestra announced that he will sign on for an initial four year contract.

The conductor said in a statement, “I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to joining the ONF family. From the onset of the first rehearsal together, we both understood each other’s desire for a more refined music making structured on the basis of the deep understanding of the composer’s intent.

Building on these concepts, I am certain we will be able to continue on the immense tradition created by our illustrious predecessors, yet find ways to bring our identity as a truly 21st century ensemble, through all means available to us as part of a media organization, to the ever wider audience. Art is a deep necessity in our world today, not just to portray an image or tell a story, but to communicate the deepest of our human emotions. These emotions connect us all, and define our place in the universe.

And with this message, I join my wonderful colleagues at the ONF in hopes of creating a more unified world, a more sensitive world, an art filled world that celebrates humanity and our shared values.”