Harding, a 50-year-old who is known mostly for his work with European orchestras and is highly sought-after in Asia, agreed to a six-year contract starting with the 2027-28 season. His first appointment by an American orchestra is with the ensemble that engaged him for his US professional debut in 1997.
“It couldn’t have come a day sooner. I’m very glad it didn’t come a day later,” he said in a telephone interview from his home in Paris. “The perfect timing, the right moment and here we go.”
Harding will conduct eight weeks in his first season, then expand his commitment to 12 weeks annually. He is also in his second season of a five-year contract as music director of Italy’s Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
Kim Noltemy, who became the LA Phil’s president and CEO in 2024, reached an agreement with Harding during dinner in Rome, Italy.
“He’s an incredible musician and an inspiring leader, a devoted educator,” Noltemy said. “He has a global perspective. He’s committed to working with the students. So he has all of the different pieces, which we really hope to get in one person.”
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