Antwerp Symphony Orchestra has announced that Marc Albrecht will assume the role of chief conductor starting at the beginning of the 2026–27 season in September 2026.
Hailing from Hanover, Albrecht is particularly known for his expertise in German and Austrian late-Romantic repertoire and contemporary music, and is a sought-after presence worldwide. Winner of numerous accolades, including Conductor of the Year at the International Opera Awards and Opus Klassik, he was appointed Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2020 in recognition of his ten-year tenure as Music Director of Dutch National Opera and Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
His career was strongly influenced by Claudio Abbado, whom he assisted at the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, before taking up the position of Generalmusikdirektor of Staatstheater Darmstadt, one of the youngest conductors to have held this position.
“I am truly excited to enter into this partnership with the wonderful Antwerp Symphony Orchestra,” he said. “When we played our very first concerts together, I felt very inspired by the orchestra’s deep musicality and its rich and variable sound. I am impatient to start on our musical journey, exploring new artistic horizons together.”
Before his official inauguration, audiences in Antwerp will have the opportunity to experience his leadership in two programmes during the 2025–26 season.
