Edward Gardner extends LPO contract

The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) has this afternoon announced the extension of its contract with principal conductor Edward Gardner. The British conductor will extend his tenure in the role for a further two years.

Having become the LPO’s 13th principal conductor in 2021, Gardner balances his role in the capital with his responsibilities as music director of the Norwegian Opera and Ballet and honorary conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Gardner will conduct nine LPO concerts at the Royal Festival Hall in the upcoming 2024-25 season, with repertoire including Strauss’s Alpine Symphony, Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, and Mahler’s Eighth Symphony.

Gardner said: ‘I’m thrilled to be extending my contract for another two years with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Our partnership so far has been packed with too many memorable performances to list, and this season promises plenty more as we look forward to performing and touring all over the world. My relationship with the incredible musicians within the Orchestra is a very special one, growing with each project, and I feel so privileged to be able to tap into their huge passion and commitment, enabling us to produce music-making of the highest quality. I’m really excited about the future possibilities.’

In the 2023-24 season Gardner led the orchestra’s involvement in Sky Arts’s documentary chronicling the process of bringing Mahler’s Second Symphony (Resurrection) the concert platform during the opening weekend of the LPO’s 2023/24 season. He also gave 10 concerts at the orchestra’s home in the Royal Festival Hall, as well as touring to South Korea, Taiwan, Paris, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Bruges and, in February 2024 releasing a recording of his performance of Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust with the LPO, recorded live in concert in 2023.