Rocca will join LPO from November 2020
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the appointment of Cristina Rocca as its Artistic Director from November 2020.
Rocca is currently Vice President of Artistic Planning for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
She was previously Artistic Director of Orchestre National de France; Director of Artistic Planning for the Cleveland Orchestra; Artistic Manager for the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg; Head of Concerts and Programming at the Bournemouth Symphony and Head of Artistic Planning for the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
The Italian joins David Burke, the LPO’s Chief Executive, as part of the senior administration of the Orchestra following the retirement earlier this year of Timothy Walker CBE AM. Rocc will lead the LPO with Edward Gardner OBE, Principal Conductor Designate, who in September 2021 succeeds Vladimir Jurowski, who will be remaining as Conductor Emeritus. The LPO also recently announced the appointment of Karina Canellakis as its Principal Guest Conductor from September 2020.
On her appointment, Rocca comments, "I am truly delighted to be joining the great London Philharmonic Orchestra and teaming up with Vladimir Jurowski, Edward Gardner and Karina Canellakis to enable the Orchestra to bring the joy of live music-making once again to its patrons and the wider community.
Together with David Burke and the team I will work hard to ensure that as many people as possible will enjoy this wonderful Orchestra."
Since UK lockdown began, LPO has been providing a series of free digital performances and insight videos, playlists reflecting the repertoire of cancelled concerts and ‘Lean in and Listen’, a new series focussing on national wellbeing. The Orchestra has partnered with the likes of Russell Brand, Jameela Jamil and Dermot O’Leary.
View the 'Lean in and Listen' series below.