Tugan Sokhiev has been appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. His initial contract runs for three seasons from the start of the 2026–27 season, with the conductor scheduled to spend six weeks each season in residence in Geneva from 2027–28 onwards.
The appointment follows a growing relationship between Sokhiev and the orchestra that began in 2024 with a well received performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, after which the orchestra's musicians expressed strong support for his leadership.
“Since my first collaborations with the Orchestra, I have felt an increasingly profound artistic affinity with its musicians, driven by a shared passion for music-making,” said Sokhiev on his appointment. “I look forward to continuing this journey together, creating inspiring programmes, exploring the richness of the symphonic repertoire and discovering new artistic horizons side by side.”
In his new role, Sokhiev will not only conduct the orchestra but also help shape its artistic direction. He will participate in auditions and recruitment processes, while concert programmes and touring projects will be developed in collaboration with the orchestra's management and artistic committee.
Charlotte de Senarclens, of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Foundation, described the appointment as part of a new artistic leadership structure intended to support the orchestra’s future development. She said Sokhiev’s international experience and artistic profile represented an important opportunity for the orchestra.
Sokhiev, who has previously served as Music Director of the Bolshoi Theatre and Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, will succeed Jonathan Nott, Music and Artistic Director of the OSR since 2017. Nott takes up the position of musical director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu from September 2026.
