Nathalie Stutzmann Conducts Rienzi at Bayreuth, Renews Atlanta Symphony Contract
In July and August, Nathalie Stutzmann, the music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), will lead a performance of Richard Wagner's Rienzi at Germany's Bayreuth Festival, celebrating the Festival's 150th anniversary with its debut at the Festspielhaus. Stutzmann, who has been at the helm of the ASO for four years and recently extended her contract for another three, aspires to cultivate an 'Austro-Germanic sound.' Her latest recording of Bruckner's 4th Symphony was launched by Warner Classics. This season, the ASO will present the first act of Die Walküre, and she envisions a concert version of Tristan und Isolde. Additionally, she will conduct Tannhäuser in Munich in May and take on the role of music director for the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. The ASO's 2026-27 season begins from October 1-4.
Key facts
- Nathalie Stutzmann conducted Wagner's Rienzi in July and August at the Bayreuth Festival, its first performance in the Festspielhaus, as the centerpiece of the Festival's 150th anniversary.
- Stutzmann has been music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for four years and renewed her contract for another three, recruiting 21 musicians.
- She aims to create an 'Austro-Germanic sound' with the ASO and make it 'America's most expressive orchestra.'
- Her recording of Bruckner's 4th Symphony was recently released on Warner Classics.
- The ASO will perform the first act of Die Walküre this season, and Stutzmann hopes to stage a concert version of Tristan und Isolde, never performed in Atlanta.
- Stutzmann conducted Tannhäuser at Bayreuth in 2023 and 2024 and will conduct it in Munich in May.
- She will become music director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra while maintaining relationships with the London Symphony, Concertgebouw and Munich Philharmonic.
- The ASO's 2026-27 season opens with Stutzmann conducting October 1 through October 4.
Entities
Artists
- Nathalie Stutzmann
- Richard Wagner
- James L. Paulk
- Katharina Wagner
- Christian Thielemann
- Robert Spano
- Seiji Ozawa
- Jordan Owen
Institutions
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- Bayreuth Festival
- Festspielhaus
- Warner Classics
- Metropolitan Opera
- Paris Opera
- Bayerische Staatsoper
- Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
- London Symphony
- Concertgebouw
- Munich Philharmonic
- Boston Symphony
- Philadelphia Orchestra
- Cleveland Orchestra
- ArtsATL
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Musical America
- Vega Quartet
Locations
- Atlanta
- United States
- Bayreuth
- Germany
- Munich
- Paris
- France
- Monte-Carlo
- Monaco
- London
- United Kingdom
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- Cleveland