Nathalie Stutzmann

Biography

Nathalie Stutzmann is the new Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from the 2022/23 season and only the second woman in history to lead a major American orchestra. She is also the Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 2021 and Chief Conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra in Norway since 2018.

Nathalie Stutzmann is considered one of the most outstanding musical personalities of our time. Charismatic musicianship, combined with unique rigour, energy and fantasy, characterise her style. A rich variety of strands form the core of her repertoire: Central European and Russian romanticism is a strong focus — ranging from Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Dvorak through to the larger symphonic forces of Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Mahler, Bruckner and Strauss — as well as French 19th century repertoire and impressionism. Her first season of partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra attracted outstanding accolades from the press with particular praise for her “memorable reading” (Bachtrack) of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony and “terrific ideas” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) in Schubert’s Great Symphony.

Highlights as guest conductor in the next seasons include debut performances with the Munich Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and Helsinki Philharmonic. She will also return to the London Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre de Paris.

Having also established a strong reputation as an opera conductor, Nathalie has led celebrated productions of Wagner’s Tannhäuser in Monte Carlo and Boito’s Mefistofele at the Orange Festival. She will begin the 22/23 season with a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Pikovaya Dama in Brussels’ La Monnaie and will make her debut at the Metropolitan Opera this season with two productions of Mozart: Die Zauberflöte and Don Giovanni. She will also reunite with Wagner’s Tannhäuser for a production at the Bayreuth Festival in 2023.

Nathalie started her studies at a very young age in piano, bassoon, cello and studied conducting with the legendary Finnish teacher Jorma Panula. She was mentored by Seiji Ozawa and Sir Simon Rattle, who says “Nathalie is the real thing. So much love, intensity and sheer technique. We need more conductors like her”.

Also one of today’s most esteemed contraltos, she studied the German repertoire with Hans Hotter, and she has done more than 80 recordings and received the most prestigious awards. Her last album released in January 2021, Contralto, was awarded of Scherzo’s ‘Exceptional’ seal, Opera Magazine’s Diamant d’Or and radio RTL’s Classique d’Or.

She is an exclusive recording artist of Warner Classics/Erato.

Nathalie was named “Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur”, France’s highest honor, and “Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French government.