Paavo Järvi is named Chief Conductor & Artistic Advisor of London Philharmonic Orchestra from September 2028
(March 2026) — Grammy-winning Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi has been appointed Chief Conductor & Artistic Advisor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), succeeding current Principal Conductor Edward Gardner at the start of the 2028–29 season. With an initial five-year contract, Järvi will be responsible for directing the orchestra’s centennial celebrations in 2032.
Järvi is as renowned for his compelling interpretations of the symphonic repertoire as for his advocacy of new music. He currently serves as Music Director of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and as the founder and Artistic Director of the Estonian Festival Orchestra.
David Burke, Chief Executive of the LPO, says:
“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.”
Jesús Herrera, Artistic Director of the LPO, adds:
“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.”
Järvi comments:
“I am honored 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.”
This week, Järvi conducts the LPO in performances of Sibelius’s Second Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Second Piano Concerto, with Alexandre Kantorow as soloist, first at London’s Royal Festival Hall (March 4), and then on tour in Budapest (March 5) and Athens (March 7). As Chief Conductor Designate, he will reunite with the orchestra in coming seasons for three London subscription concerts and performances on tour in the UK and overseas.
Meanwhile, U.S. audiences can look forward to his upcoming spring returns to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he leads a program of Schumann, Beethoven, and Brahms (March 27–29), and the Chicago Symphony, where he conducts music by Sibelius, Brahms, and Estonia’s Erkki-Sven Tüür (April 2–4). Listeners can also anticipate the release on March 13th of Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, recorded with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich for Alpha Classics, following their coupling of the same composer’s First and Fifth Symphonies last year.
Paavo Järvi: upcoming engagements
March 4, 5, & 7
Tour with London Philharmonic Orchestra
March 4: London, England (Royal Festival Hall)
March 5: Budapest, Hungary (Béla Bartók National Concert Hall)
March 7: Athens, Greece (Megaron)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 2 (with Alexandre Kantorow, piano)
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2
March 11–13
Zurich, Switzerland
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
Thomas ADÈS: Three Studies from Couperin
BRAHMS: Violin Concerto (with Janine Jansen, violin; March 11 & 12 only)
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”
March 18–20
Zurich, Switzerland
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
MAHLER: Adagio from Symphony No. 10
HONEGGER: Symphony No. 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 (with Hilary Hahn, violin)
March 27–29
Los Angeles, CA
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Philharmonic
SCHUMANN: Overture, Scherzo and Finale in E
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1 (with Behzod Abduraimov, piano)
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2
April 2–4
Chicago, IL
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
BRAHMS: Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Erkki-Sven TÜÜR: Concerto for Accordion, “Prophecy” (with Ksenija Sidorova, accordion)
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2
April 16–25
European tour with Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
April 16–18: Bremen, Germany (Die Glocke)
April 19: Heidelberg, Germany (Heidelberger Frühling Festival)
April 21: Vienna, Austria (Musikverein Wien)
April 22: Valencia, Spain (Palau de la Música)
April 24: Reggio Emilia, Italy (Teatro Municipale Romolo Valli)
April 25: Hamburg, Germany (Elbphilharmonie)
Repertoire selected from:
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 1
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 19, K. 459 (with Mao Fujita, piano)
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 3
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”
May 8–10
Zurich, Switzerland
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto (with María Dueñas, violin)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 (May 8 only)
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4, “Romantic” (May 9 & 10 only)
May 11
Milan, Italy
Teatro alla Scala
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto (with María Dueñas, violin)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5
May 17–23
Japanese tour with Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
May 17: Yokohama (Minato Mirai Hall)
May 18 & 19: Tokyo (Suntory Hall)
May 21: Tokyo (Sumida Triphony Hall)
May 22: Nagoya (Aichi Arts Center)
May 23: Osaka (Symphony Hall)
Repertoire selected from:
SCHUMANN: Genoveva Overture, Op. 81
BRAHMS: Violin Concerto (with Janine Jansen, violin)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 (with Kyohei Sorita, piano)
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4, “Romantic”
June 17–19
Zurich, Switzerland
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 (with Igor Levit, piano)
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1, “Spring”