Semyon Bychkov Conductor

Biography

Alexander Neef, Director General of the Paris national Opera, announces the appointment of Semyon Bychkov as Music Director, effective 1 August 2028, for four seasons. From 1 August 2026, Semyon Bychkov will accompany the musical ensembles of the Paris National Opera as Appointed Music Director.

Born in Saint Petersburg, Semyon Bychkov emigrated to the United States in 1975 and has lived in Europe since the mid-1980s. From 1989 to 1998, he served as Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris. He was also Principal Guest Conductor of the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (1990-1994), Principal Conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (1997-2010) and Chief Conductor of the Semperoper Dresden (1998–2003).

Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic since 2018, Semyon Bychkov and the Orchestra have given numerous concerts in Prague, and toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the United States.

The Year of Czech Music 2024 was marked by the recording of Smetana’s Má vlast and Dvořák’s Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 and 9. In spring 2026, PENTATONE will release a box set of Mahler’s symphonies recorded with the Czech Philharmonic over the last eight seasons.

Semyon Bychkov was named Conductor of the Year at the International Opera Awards in 2015 and by Musical America in 2022.

At the helm of the Paris Opera Orchestra, he has conducted:

Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, directed by Gilbert Deflo, in 2007 at the Opéra Bastille.
Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, directed by Peter Sellars, in 2008 at the Opéra Bastille and on tour in Japan.
Richard Strauss’ Metamorphoses and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 ‘Leningrad’ at the Opéra Bastille in 2009.
Richard Strauss’ Elektra, directed by Robert Carsen, in 2022 at the Opéra Bastille.
The concert dedicated to Antonín Dvořák at the Ravel Festival in 2023, featuring the Carnaval and In Nature’s Realm Overtures and Symphony No. 9, From the New World.

As part of the Paris Opera's 25/26 season, Semyon Bychkov will conduct Eugene Onegin, directed by Ralph Fiennes, from 23 January to 15 February 2026 at the Palais Garnier.

Currently in

Immerse in the Paris Opera universe

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