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Orchestre de Paris
Klaus Mäkelä

The Musical Direction

Appointed Music Advisor to the Orchestra in June 2020, Klaus Mäkelä took up his full duties as Music Director in September 2021. The tenth leader to hold this title, he succeeds Charles Munch, Herbert von Karajan, Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, Semyon Bychkov, Christoph von Dohnányi, Christoph Eschenbach, Paavo Järvi and Daniel Harding.

Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä has held the position of chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic since 2020 and music director of the Orchestre de Paris since September 2021. He assumes the title of chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in September 2027 and, in the same season, begins his tenure as Zell Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Mäkelä’s fifth season with the Orchestre de Paris features wide-ranging programmes, from Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis to Pascal Dusapin’s Opera Oratorio Antigone. With a continued focus on French repertoire and contemporary music they also perform Bizet’s Symphony in C and Franck’s Symphony in D minor, as well as new works by Guillaume Connesson, Joan Tower, Anders Hillborg, Ellen Reid and Sauli Zinovjev.

Learn more about Klaus Mäkelä

Prestigious musical directors

Charles Munch conducted the Orchestre de Paris for just over a year before passing away in his sleep during a tour with the orchestra in the United States.
The early days were marked by an uncertain future, which was quickly clarified by the figures of Karajan, then Solti and very soon Daniel Barenboim, all of whom demonstrated a genuine desire to keep the new orchestra alive and at a very high level of quality.

(1967 - 1968)

Charles Munch

Founder of the Orchestre de Paris, Charles Munch gave the orchestra its personality: elegant and energetic. In just one year, he propelled the orchestra to the forefront of the international scene, thanks to two tours in the Soviet Union and the United States.

(1969-1971)

Herbert von Karajan

Herbert von Karajan performed his favourite repertoire with the Orchestre de Paris: Brahms' German Requiem, performed in memory of Charles Munch, and Verdi's Missa da Requiem, both with the Wiener Singverein. He also conducted Mozart with Eschenbach, Tchaikovsky with Weissenberg, Strauss with Rostropovich, as well as Handel, Haydn, Franck and Honegger.

(1972-1975)

Georg Solti

A great romantic, Georg Solti focused on French and German works from this period. He remained for only three years and gave his last concert on 30 June 1975, the date of the orchestra's first performance of Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand at the Palais des Congrès. As he left, he whispered to the principal violinist of the time, "I am sending you one of my spiritual sons", referring to Daniel Barenboim.

(1975-1989)

Daniel Barenboim

An excellent pianist and charismatic leader, he conducted the orchestra for 14 seasons, imparting his generosity to its members. He was responsible for creating the Symphonic Choir, which he entrusted to Arthur Oldham. On 14 July 1974, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 was performed in front of 60,000 people at the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

(1989-1998)

Semyon Bychkov

Admired for the precision and simplicity of his conducting, Bychkov places the composer at the heart of the works. His temperament and technique make him a masterful interpreter, particularly of the Russian repertoire.

(1998 - 2000)

Christoph Von Dohnányi

A disciple of Solti, he was musical advisor and principal guest conductor for two seasons. He conducted a series of concerts for the orchestra, mainly in collaboration with the Théâtre du Châtelet.

(2000-2010)

Christoph Eschenbach

Assuming the dual role of music director for the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris, he took the latter into more contemporary territory, creating and producing works by composers such as Dalbavie and Berio.

(2010-2016)

Paavo Järvi

The orchestra gave its first concert at the Philharmonie de Paris in January 2015 with Paavo Järvi. For six seasons, he passionately programmed French music, which he recorded several times with the orchestra. At the end of his tenure as musical director, he conducted the complete symphonies of Sibelius.

(2016-2019)

Daniel Harding

British conductor Daniel Harding brings with him the music of his country: Elgar, Britten, Birtwistle... He brings his high standards and rigour to the great German repertoire, adding Schumann's great oratorios to the orchestra's repertoire: Scenes from Faust, Paradise and the Peri, Manfred, Mahler's symphonies, while inviting composer Jörg Widmann to take up residence.