Cristian Măcelaru to become music director of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2025-26

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cristian Măcelaru was hired Wednesday as music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra starting in the 2025-26 season.

The 44-year-old will be music director designate in the 2024-25 season and then will have a four-year term.

Măcelaru will succeed Louis Langrée, who leaves at the end of this season after serving as music director since 2013-14.

Măcelaru has been music director of the Orchestre National de France since the 2021-22 season and holds that job through 2026-27. He has been chief conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester in Cologne, Germany, since 2019-20 and is scheduled to step down after the 2024-25 season.