André de Ridder to Join New Zealand Symphony as Music Director

In Monday’s (6/23) Limelight (Australia), Jason Blake writes, “The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of André de Ridder as its next Music Director for a tenure to start in 2027. Having made his NZSO debut with a three-concert festival in 2023, the German-born conductor will become the NZSO’s first Music Director—the first since Edo de Waart departed in 2019. Gemma New, the orchestra’s Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor since 2022, will continue her association with the NZSO in the new role of Artistic Partner. De Ridder comes to the role having already been appointed Music Director of the English National Opera, a title he will also assume in 2027. He is currently Music Director of Germany’s Theatre Freiburg and Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg, with his contract to end at the close of its 2026–2027 season…. De Ridder’s projects and collaborations have seen him work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphony Orchester Berlin, Orchestre de Paris and The Netherlands’ Concertgebouworkest. He is also highly regarded in contemporary and popular music, including collaborations with bands Gorillaz and The National, and Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood.”