THOMAS DAUSGAARD AND THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY ANNOUNCE CLOSURE OF HIS TENURE AS MUSIC DIRECTOR
THE SYMPHONY HONORS A DEFINING PARTNERSHIP SPANNING OVER A DECADE
SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle Symphony honors Thomas Dausgaard, whose defining 12-year partnership alongside the Symphony comes to a close with the announcement today of his decision to step away from his role as its Music Director, ahead of his originally planned final season in 2022/2023. Dausgaard, who appeared regularly as a guest conductor since 2010 and became Principal Guest Conductor in 2014, began his tenure as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony in 2019. Dausgaard’s collaboration with the Symphony for over a decade has earned widespread acclaim, marked by innovative programming, championing of music by composers of today and Grammy-nominated recordings.
Of the decision to now step away from the music directorship, Dausgaard said, “For more than a decade, I’ve cherished my partnership with the inspired, collaborative musicians of the Seattle Symphony and with the wonderful community that we serve. The great people of Seattle are truly among the world’s most engaged, enthusiastic audiences and each concert experience with them has been deeply rewarding.
“There are no words to express the joy I experienced making music together with the orchestra in November, when we were reunited after 19 months apart. The homecoming — after so many months of pandemic-related travel restrictions — was quite something, and I will forever cherish that moment. The global challenges of these years have impacted each of us, our beloved Seattle Symphony and all of society. After much reflection, I have made the decision to step away from my role as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony.
“My partnership with Seattle has been rewarding beyond measure. My decision to step away at this moment when we’ve realized such collective artistic success is a result of these pandemic times, which centers the question for us all: how do we value our lives? I have enjoyed immensely my life with the Seattle Symphony, and it is time for me to move on.
“I wish the very best in 2022 — and long into the future — for the Seattle Symphony and for the many individuals whose talents, generosity, engagement and friendship I will forever cherish with great fondness.”
“Thomas Dausgaard has been an absolutely extraordinary partner to us,” said Seattle Symphony President and CEO, Krishna Thiagarajan. “The pandemic has been a time of great challenge and self-reflection for us all, and so we understand and respect his decision. As we look to our path ahead, we recognize the transformational impact Thomas has had in Seattle and will collaborate closely with our musicians to secure his replacement and ensure that the Symphony continues its upward trajectory of artistic growth and excellence.”
Additionally, Symphony Board Chair Jon Rosen said, “Thomas Dausgaard is a true visionary who has had a lasting impact on the Seattle Symphony community. His more than a decade conducting and leading our orchestra has been marked by artistic success and a genuine, enthusiastic connection with musicians and audiences alike. Our gratitude and good wishes go to Thomas as he moves forward.”
Highlights of Dausgaard’s tenure with the Seattle Symphony include notable projects brought to the Benaroya Hall stage, many of which were commissions, as well as some that were sidelined due to the global pandemic. Such outstanding programs included recent and planned performances of works by composers Hans Abrahamsen, Enrico Chapela, Francisco Coll, Charles Corey, Brett Dean, Tan Dun, Reena Esmail, Janice Giteck, Helen Grime, Rued Langgaard, Angélica Negrón, Olga Neuwirth, Angelique Poteat, Ellen Reid, Tyshawn Sorey and Simon Steen-Andersen.
As Music Director, Dausgaard introduced his signature ‘Roots’ series, which spotlighted dialogue between artistic traditions and contextualized works like Sibelius’ Kullervo and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring with folk music, and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 with orthodox chant. In the same artistic spirit, Dausgaard was set to debut with the Seattle Symphony in this current season his new take on the Sibelius Cycle, in which leading composers of today are invited to create new works inspired by and paired with each of Sibelius’ symphonies.
Seattle Symphony recordings with Dausgaard have also consistently received critical acclaim, including this year’s Grammy nomination of their album “Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra; Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy.” Previous lauded recordings include Mahler Symphony No. 10, Nielsen Symphonies Nos. 1–4 and Walker’s Sinfonia No. 5, “Visions.” Dausgaard’s passion about music’s engagement with society and the issues of today also inspired new Symphony collaborations with Seattle-area youth and community organizations, including Potlach Symphony 2020, created jointly with artists of the Coast Salish tribes.
With Dausgaard’s departure, the Seattle Symphony remains committed to adventurous programming, building on the excellence Dausgaard has inspired. The Symphony will soon welcome several acclaimed guest conductors to step in at Benaroya Hall and continue the Symphony’s adventurous 2021/2022 season. Programming updates for the current season will be announced shortly.
THOMAS DAUSGAARD
Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard is esteemed for his creativity and innovative programming, the excitement of his live performances and his extensive catalogue of critically acclaimed recordings. His programming in recent seasons has seen an increased focus on context, exploring the influences found in folk and liturgical music in orchestral works by a range of composers including Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Sibelius, Nielsen and Bartók.
Performing internationally with the world’s leading orchestras, Dausgaard’s tenure as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony began in 2019, having previously served as Principal Guest Conductor from 2014 and as a regular guest conductor beginning in 2010. Dausgaard is currently the Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He also holds titles as Honorary Conductor of the Orchestra della Toscana (ORT) and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, having previously served as its Chief Conductor from 2004–2011; and Conductor Laureate of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, having served as Chief Conductor from 1997–2019.
A renowned recording artist, Dausgaard’s releases with the Seattle Symphony have garnered critical acclaim resulting in international honors, including a 2017 Gramophone Award nomination for Mahler’s Symphony No. 10 (Deryck Cooke version), Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year Award, and a 2019 Best Orchestral Performance Grammy nomination for Nielsen’s Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4. A recent release with the orchestra features the world premiere live performance of George Walker’s Sinfonia No. 5, “Visions.” His extensive recording catalogue includes complete symphonic cycles of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Langgaard. He recently released Bruckner Symphony No. 3 with Bergen Philharmonic, The Brandenburg Project, and Mendelssohn Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.
During the pandemic, he launched the interactive YouTube music channel for children, Thomas’ Music Room, which has attracted over a million views.
Dausgaard has been awarded the Cross of Chivalry by the Queen of Denmark and elected to the Royal Academy of Music in Sweden. His interests beyond music are wide-ranging, and include architecture, landscape, and a love of learning the life and culture of different communities.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Seattle’s soundtrack since 1903, the Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony Live streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
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