logo
New York Philharmonic-Van Zweden
Jaap van Zweden, background center, conducts the New York Philharmonic in a rehearsal with viola soloist Antoine Tamestit at David Geffen Hall in New York on May 22, 2024. Van Zweden conducts his last Lincoln Center concert as music director of the New York Philharmonic this weekend. (AP Photo/Ronald Blum)

Jaap van Zweden ending tenure as New York Philharmonic music director after 6 seasons

Jaap van Zweden is ending his tenure as the New York Philharmonic music director after six seasons, the orchestra’s shortest since Pierre Boulez from 1971-77

By Ronald Blum
Published - Jun 06, 2024, 02:58 PM ET
Last Updated - Jun 06, 2024, 02:58 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jaap van Zweden decided during the pandemic that he wanted to jettison the jet-setting life of a transatlantic conductor, so the less-flying Dutchman cut short his New York Philharmonic tenure, the orchestra’s shortest for a music director since Pierre Boulez from 1971-77.

“I strongly believe in heart-to-heart contact, eye-to-eye contact, and not through a camera or something,” he said. “I cannot change myself. I was pushed into the century of Skyping and electronics. It’s not me.”

Van Zweden is conducting three performances of Mahler’s Second Symphony through Saturday for his Lincoln Center finale, then leading the orchestra on the road for five concerts in China from June 27 to July 3 and three performances at Vail, Colorado, from July 17-20.

“COVID changed many people’s lives. In fact, it probably changed all of our lives,” former Philharmonic president Deborah Borda said. “I don’t think this would be an unusual story of somebody — of a man refocusing his life choices.”

Our Offices
  • 10kInfo, Inc.
    13555 SE 36th St
    Bellevue, WA 98006
  • 10kInfo Data Solutions, Pvt Ltd.
    Claywork Create
    11 km, Arakere Bannerghatta Rd, Omkar Nagar, Arekere,
    Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076
4.2 12182024