Paavo Järvi has been appointed Chief Conductor & Artistic Advisor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra

One of the most respected and sought-after conductors of his generation, Järvi succeeds current Principal Conductor Edward Gardner, assuming the role at the start of the 2028/29 season. With an initial five-year contract, Järvi’s appointment marks an important new chapter for the Orchestra, as it approaches its 2032 centenary.

Grammy Award–winning conductor Paavo Järvi is renowned for his compelling interpretations of the symphonic repertoire and his advocacy for new music. He brings to the podium a leadership style defined by distinctive musical insight and a deep commitment to orchestral excellence. Equally central to both Järvi and the London Philharmonic Orchestra is a shared dedication to nurturing the next generation, a commitment embodied in the Orchestra’s industry-leading talent development programmes.

This season Järvi leads the Orchestra in performances of Sibelius’s Symphony No.

2 and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Alexandre Kantorow at London’s

Royal Festival Hall (4 March), followed by concerts in Budapest and Athens (5 and 7 March) – offering audiences an early glimpse of the artistic partnership that will shape the Orchestra’s future.

Following seven seasons of ambitious programming, major international tours and award-winning recordings, Edward Gardner will conclude his tenure as Principal Conductor at the end of the 2027/28 season. During his time with the LPO, Gardner has shaped a distinctive artistic profile, combining core symphonic repertoire with bold explorations of 20th-century and contemporary music. Landmark performances have included Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder and an immersive presentation of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, alongside extensive engagement with Elgar’s symphonic works. His programming has placed British repertoire within a broad international context, integrating contemporary compositions into the full season and leading large-scale projects. 

This spring, Gardner leads the LPO in an eclectic programme of works by Turnage, Bartók and Mussorgsky (1 April), followed by a semi-staged performance of Berg’s Wozzeck (25 April).

David Burke, Chief Executive of the London Philharmonic Orchestra:

‘From the first time I heard Paavo Järvi perform in 2023, it was clear that he shared a remarkable musical connection with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. I am immensely proud to announce this new partnership and excited to see it grow as we approach our 2032 centenary. I am also delighted that Edward Gardner will remain an integral part of this journey. His tenure continues to define a period of extraordinary growth and, with two further seasons already planned, we look forward to continuing our inspiring collaboration for many years to come.’

Jesús Herrera, Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra:

‘We are thrilled to welcome Paavo Järvi to the LPO family. He is a remarkable Maestro whose artistic brilliance and deep humanity perfectly embody our orchestra’s values. I would also like to thank Edward Gardner for his exceptional work and musical inspiration. With the Orchestra’s distinguished history of exceptional artistic leadership, we are proud to carry that legacy forward through our future plans with both Ed and Paavo.’

Edward Gardner:

‘It has been an immense privilege to serve as Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Over these seasons we have explored extraordinary repertoire together and built projects of which I am deeply proud. With two and a half years still ahead of us, I look forward to continuing that journey with the musicians and audiences who make this orchestra so remarkable.’ Paavo Järvi: 

‘I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It is a privilege to work with an ensemble of such artistry and tradition, and I look forward to the music we will make together.’

About Paavo Järvi

Paavo Järvi is widely recognised as one of today’s most eminent conductors, enjoying close partnerships with the finest orchestras around the world. He currently serves as Music Director of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and is both the founder and Artistic Director of the Pärnu Music Festival and Estonian Festival Orchestra.

In addition to his permanent positions, Järvi is much in demand as a guest conductor, regularly appearing with the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. He also continues to enjoy close relationships with many of the orchestras of which he was previously Music Director, including the Orchestre de Paris, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra. 

Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Paavo Järvi studied Percussion and Conducting at the Tallinn School of Music. In 1980, he moved to the USA, where he continued his studies at the

Curtis Institute of Music and at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute with Leonard Bernstein. He has received numerous international honours, including the Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the Sibelius Medal, the Hindemith Prize, and Estonia’s Order of the White Star. 

About Edward Gardner

Edward Gardner is Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Under his leadership, the Orchestra has strengthened its international presence through acclaimed appearances at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, alongside major tours across Europe, Asia and the United States. His live recording of Tippett’s The Midsummer Marriage, captured at his first concert as Principal Conductor, received a Gramophone Award and established an early defining moment of his tenure, with further recordings continuing to enhance the Orchestra’s global profile.

Gardner is also Music Director of The Norwegian Opera & Ballet and Honorary Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, following his tenure as Chief Conductor from 2015 to 2024.

Alongside his work in London and Oslo, Gardner maintains longstanding artistic relationships with leading European institutions including the Bavarian Radio Symphony

Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Bavarian State Opera. In North America he appears regularly with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

In the 2028/29 season, as Music Director of The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Gardner begins his journey toward a complete Wagner Ring Cycle, marking a major milestone in his operatic career.

About the London Philharmonic Orchestra

One of the finest orchestras on the international stage, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1932 by Sir Thomas Beecham. Since then, its Principal

Conductors have included Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Sir Georg Solti, Klaus Tennstedt and Kurt Masur. In September 2021 Edward Gardner became the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, succeeding Vladimir Jurowski, who became Conductor Emeritus in recognition of his transformative impact on the Orchestra as Principal Conductor from 2007–21. 

The London Philharmonic Orchestra has performed at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall since it opened in 1951, becoming Resident Orchestra in 1992. It also has flourishing residencies in Brighton, Eastbourne and Saffron Walden, and performs regularly around the UK. Each summer it plays for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where it has been Resident Symphony Orchestra for over 60 years. The Orchestra also tours internationally, performing to sell-out audiences worldwide. 

The Orchestra broadcasts regularly on television and radio, and has recorded soundtracks for numerous blockbuster films. It has made many distinguished recordings over the last eight decades and in 2025 celebrated the 20th anniversary of its own LPO Label. 

The LPO is one of the world’s most-streamed orchestras, with over 15 million plays of its content each month. In 2023 it was the most successful orchestra worldwide on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, with over 1.6m followers across all platforms, and in

2024 it featured in a TV documentary series on Sky Arts: ‘Backstage with the London Philharmonic Orchestra’, which was nominated for a 2025 BAFTA Award and is still available to watch via Now TV. During 2025/26 the Orchestra is once again working with Marquee TV to broadcast selected live concerts.

Quelle: London Philharmonic Orchestra