L.A. Philharmonic Names Daniel Harding as Music Director
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Daniel Harding, a British conductor with extensive experience leading top European orchestras, has been named music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, succeeding Gustavo Dudamel.
- Harding, 50, currently directs the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome and is known for his multilingual abilities and unique background as a licensed airline pilot.
- Gustavo Dudamel, who led the Philharmonic since 2007 and connected deeply with Los Angeles' Hispanic community, will become music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic in September.
- Unlike Dudamel, Harding will initially serve only as music director, with Esa-Pekka Salonen returning as the orchestra’s creative director, marking a shift to a more traditional leadership structure.
- Harding praised Dudamel’s impact, acknowledging that the orchestra’s current prominence makes his new role both more attractive and challenging.