The Opéra national de Paris has announced the appointment of Semyon Bychkov as its next music director. The appointment will take effect on 1 August 2028, for a term of four seasons.
According to an official statement released on 6 January 2026, Bychkov will begin working with the Paris Opera earlier, from 1 August 2026, as appointed music director, accompanying the institution’s musical ensembles during a two-year transition period.
In this role, Bychkov will oversee the artistic quality of the orchestra, chorus, and vocal coaches, contribute to programme planning, and take part in principal auditions for the recruitment of musicians. Once his full mandate begins in 2028, he will conduct two opera productions and six symphonic concert programmes per season, both in Paris and on tour.
Announcing the appointment, Paris Opera director general Alexander Neef emphasised Bychkov’s long-standing relationship with the institution, developed over nearly two decades through major productions such as Un ballo in maschera (2007), Tristan und Isolde (2008), Elektra (2022), and the forthcoming Eugene Onegin (2026), as well as symphonic projects and international tours.
Bychkov, currently chief conductor and music director of the Czech Philharmonic, described the appointment as “a mission and a privilege.” He highlighted his deep personal and artistic connection with France, where he has lived for more than three decades, and praised the distinctive identity of the Paris Opera’s orchestra and chorus.
By the time he formally takes up the post in 2028, Bychkov will have completed 11 years at the helm of the Czech Philharmonic, concluding a significant chapter of his career in Prague. Born in Russia, he has lived in France for many years and previously served as music director of the Orchestre de Paris from 1989 to 1998, a role that firmly established his profile on the European music scene.
The music director position at the Opéra national de Paris has been vacant for the past three years, following the resignation of Gustavo Dudamel, making Bychkov’s appointment a key step in restoring long-term artistic leadership to the institution.
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