The Paris Opera has announced that Gustavo Dudamel will resign as Music Director at the end of the 2022/2023 season for personal reasons.
It is with a heavy heart, and after long consideration, that I announce my resignation as Music Director of the Paris Opera, in order to spend more time with my family. It has been a privilege to share such wonderful moments with the Orchestra, Chorus, and artistic teams of Opera de Paris over the past two seasons. This is a time which I believe has changed all of us in many unique and complex ways, and I certainly have a greater appreciation for life, and for how art and music enriches my every day existence and that of those around us.
I have no plans other than to be with my loved ones, to whom I am deeply grateful for helping me to continue to be strong in my resolve to grow and remain challenged, both personally and artistically, each and every day.
As for the 2023/2024 season, the Paris Opera will communicate more details in due course about the projects that have been announced with the participation of Dudamel.
Alexander Neef, general director of the Paris Opera, said,
I would like to thank Gustavo Dudamel whose passion and immense talent have brought so much to the repertoire of our house. He was able to forge a special relationship with the musicians of the Orchestra, the artists of the Chorus, the singers and the artistic teams, a relationship marked by mutual respect and the desire to create the most beautiful performances together. The recent success of Nixon in China is one of the most striking illustrations. Gustavo Dudamel is an immense musician. I express my deep gratitude to him for the work accomplished during his tenure, and I fully respect his decision.
Dudamel took up his position as Music Director of the Paris Opera on 1 August 2021. In 2022, he was named Officier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
