The Polish National Opera (Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa) has announced the appointment of Yoel Gamzou as its next music director, beginning in the 2026/27 season. He will serve an initial four-year term, succeeding Patrick Fournillier, who has led the company’s orchestra since the 2020/21 season.
Gamzou is already familiar to audiences in Warsaw, having conducted the orchestra in a recent symphonic programme featuring works by Beethoven, Richard Strauss, and Prokofiev. Speaking at the press conference announcing his appointment, he described the ensemble as “a group of excellent musicians” and said he was looking forward to working with them.
The conductor has established a growing international career in opera. From 2017 to 2022, he served as music director of Theater Bremen. In 2022, he conducted performances of Die tote Stadt at the Vienna State Opera, leading to further engagements in Austria and other major European houses, including appearances at the Hamburg and Munich State Operas, where he continues to work as a guest conductor.
Announcing the decision, General Director Boris Kudlička described the appointment as “probably one of the most important decisions we make.” He added that the role of the music director will be strengthened as part of a broader new artistic vision for the company.
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