{"id":330314,"date":"2025-12-11T18:36:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T16:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2025\/12\/a-radiant-princess-caroline-announces-historic-opmc-appointment\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T18:36:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T16:36:17","slug":"a-radiant-princess-caroline-announces-historic-opmc-appointment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2025\/12\/a-radiant-princess-caroline-announces-historic-opmc-appointment\/","title":{"rendered":"A radiant Princess Caroline announces historic OPMC appointment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

French conductor Nathalie Stutzmann becomes the first woman to lead the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo (OPMC) in its 169-year history. She will succeed Kazuki Yamada for a four-year term.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

On Wednesday 10 December in the Rainier III Auditorium, Princess Caroline of Hanover, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, revealed who will take the helm of the Monegasque ensemble. On 1 September 2026, Nathalie Stutzmann, 60, will become the 19th Artistic and Music Director of the OPMC \u2013 and the first woman to occupy the position since the orchestra was founded in 1856.<\/p>\n\n

Before announcing the historic appointment, Princess Caroline wished to acknowledge the work of her predecessor: \u201cI would like to express my deepest gratitude to Maestro Kazuki Yamada for the remarkable work accomplished over these ten seasons. Under his direction, the orchestra has taken new artistic steps and consolidated its identity<\/em>.\u201d The Board of Directors faced a difficult task: \u201cIt is a great responsibility to choose the person who will not only be able to maintain the level of excellence achieved, but also bring a new vision<\/em>,\u201d the Princess said.<\/p>\n\n

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Although currently travelling abroad, Kazuki Yamada made a point of offering his congratulations via video, in French, to his successor: \u201cAs far as I know, she wished to become a conductor and studied alongside Seiji Ozawa, who was also a mentor to me. I am delighted to know that someone who shares this common spirit will take over the position that I will still occupy for a few more months<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Philippe Fitte – Department of Cultural Affairs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A ten-year love story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The appointment crowns a collaboration that began a decade ago between Nathalie Stutzmann and the OPMC. The French conductor has led the orchestra on numerous occasions, both in the operatic repertoire \u2013 with L\u2019Elisir d\u2019amore<\/em> in 2014 and Tannh\u00e4user<\/em> in 2017 at the Op\u00e9ra de Monte-Carlo \u2013 and in the symphony genre during recent seasons. In 2014, she was also promoted to the rank of Officer in the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is going to become my European family<\/em>,\u201d Nathalie Stutzmann said at the press conference, visibly moved. \u201cI always call my orchestras my family. I have an American family that I adore, with whom I have managed to build a wonderful relationship. But they are across the Atlantic. Having a family with whom I can also communicate in my native language was a dream for me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Asked about the reasons behind her decision, the conductor brushed aside any career-driven considerations: \u201cI do not make choices for my professional career, I make choices from the heart. Without this desire, this pleasure of making music with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, I would not have accepted<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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\u00a9 Benjamin Godart – Monaco Tribune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

International influence and outreach to young audiences<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

While Nathalie Stutzmann did not wish to reveal specific projects, she outlined the main themes of her ambition for the OPMC. \u201cI consider this orchestra so important that it seems essential to me to bring it back further into the spotlight, not only in the Principality, but all over the world<\/em>,\u201d she said. The news has been met with excitement among classical music enthusiasts. \u201cI am delighted to learn that she wishes to resume touring with the orchestra and the opera. She is a woman full of momentum and energy who brings with her the experience and diversity of an American orchestra like Atlanta\u2019s,<\/em>\u201d pianist Katherine Nikitine told us.<\/p>\n\n

In particular, the conductor plans to use digital tools to enhance the orchestra\u2019s visibility: \u201cI would like to develop far more concerts broadcast live around the world. The opportunities today with Arte, Mezzo, Spotify or YouTube are extraordinary<\/em>.\u201d A major asset in this strategy is her exclusive contract with Warner Classics, which she intends the OPMC to benefit from.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

The other key aspect of her project concerns opening up to younger generations. \u201cWe must try to break down the wall that exists between the idea people have of a symphony concert and the way young people perceive it<\/em>,\u201d she explained, referring to initiatives she already leads in Atlanta: open rehearsals, meetings with musicians, short concerts followed by an aperitif. Her approach is welcomed by Nathalie Bomy Collomb-Muret, a member of Friends of the OPMC: \u201cThis is the hardest thing in our profession: attracting young audiences to classical music. Those who are at the Conservatory already have that spark; it\u2019s the others we have to convince<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Une publication partag\u00e9e par Monaco Tribune (@monacotribune)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n