The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Daniele Rustioni has been named principal guest conductor for a three-year term, beginning in the 2025-26 season. During this tenure, Rustioni will conduct at least two operas each season, including a new production of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, as well as revivals of Giordano's Andrea Ch茅nier, Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Puccini's La Boh茅me.
Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin, the Met's music director, said: 鈥淚 am delighted to invite Daniele to the conducting roster of the Met as principal guest conductor. We have shared artistic values, which are first and foremost led by our deep love, commitment to, and respect for the music and the musicians. Having Daniele in this elevated role is good for the orchestra, good for the chorus, and good for opera.鈥�
Rustioni, currently the music director of the Op茅ra National de Lyon, made his Met debut in 2017, conducting Verdi's Aida. He has since led new productions of Verdi's Rigoletto and Bizet's Carmen, which were the company's New Year's Eve Gala productions in 2021 and 2023 respectively. He has also conducted revivals of Verdi's Falstaff and Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.
Said Rustioni: "I am honored to be appointed as the Met鈥檚 principal guest conductor and to work with Yannick, Peter [Gelb], and this legendary orchestra, chorus, and company. Every time I have conducted here, I have been inspired by the incredible Met Orchestra and Chorus, and the artists on and off stage. To be following in the footsteps of so many of the greatest artists in history, including Italian artists like Arturo Toscanini, is a highlight of my artistic life. I鈥檓 looking forward to sharing our passion and love for opera with our audiences in the coming seasons."
