The Orchestre National de France has named Italian conductor Riccardo Muti as its Conductor Emeritus, recognising what Radio France described as his “exceptional commitment” and decades-long relationship with France’s oldest symphony orchestra.
The distinction was announced on 18 June, the same day Muti returned to the podium of the Orchestre National de France for a programme featuring music by Verdi, Alfredo Catalani and Tchaikovsky. According to Radio France, the title acknowledges a partnership that has spanned nearly half a century and left a lasting mark on generations of musicians within the orchestra.
“Riccardo Muti is far more than a guest conductor,” said Michel Orier, Director of Music and Creation at Radio France. “He is a model for future generations and, in many respects, a guiding figure for the orchestra’s musicians.”
The relationship between Muti and the Orchestre National de France began on 11 March 1980 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, where he conducted works by Schumann, Manuel de Falla and Mozart. Over the following decades, he became one of the ensemble’s most frequent and celebrated collaborators, appearing regularly in Paris and at the Festival de Saint-Denis, where his association with the orchestra dates back to a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in June 1982.
Although Muti never held the position of music director, his artistic influence on the orchestra has been unusually enduring. The new title formalises a connection that has survived changes in leadership, concert venues and generations of players, making him one of the defining conductorial figures in the orchestra’s modern history.
Now 84, Muti remains one of the most active conductors of his generation. His appearances with the Orchestre National de France have continued well into the 2020s, including a performance of Verdi’s Requiem with the orchestra and the Chœur de Radio France at the Philharmonie de Paris in October 2024.
The appointment also reflects a broader trend among leading orchestras to honour long-standing artistic partnerships that extend beyond formal music directorships. In Muti’s case, the title recognises a relationship that has lasted 46 years and continues to evolve, rather than serving as a farewell tribute at the end of a career.
Widely regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of both the Italian and Austro-German repertoire, Muti has held some of the most prestigious posts in classical music, including music directorships at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Philharmonia Orchestra, La Scala and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His association with the Orchestre National de France, however, stands apart for its longevity and consistency.
With the new honorary title, the orchestra has formally acknowledged a partnership that has become part of its institutional history.
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