Esa-Pekka Salonen Back With the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Superstar Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen is returning to the Los Angeles Philharmonic to take the new position of creative director beginning with the 2026-27 season, it was announced Tuesday.

As part of a five-year appointment, Salonen will conduct and curate about six weeks of concerts with the LA Phil and focus on multi-disciplinary projects, festivals and the innovative programming for which the orchestra is renowned.

Salonen, 67, served as the LA Phil’s music director from 1992-2009, when he commissioned and premiered a record-breaking number of works and was architect Frank Gehry’s partner in the construction of the Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown.

“Esa-Pekka Salonen is a transformational artist whose vision helped shape the LA Phil into what it has become today,” LA Phil president & CEO Kim Noltemy said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have Esa-Pekka join the LA Phil in this historic new role, and we look forward to seeing how his innovative spirit will build on his highly celebrated legacy here and around the world.

“The addition of a creative director to our artistic team gives us an even greater ability to serve our audiences, bring unparalleled musical experiences to our iconic stages and push the boundaries of what an orchestra can do.”

The LA Phil is searching for a music director to replace Gustavo Dudamel, who is about to begin his final season there before he takes over the New York Philharmonic next year. (Dudamel was Salonen’s pick to succeed him in L.A.)

The LA Phil also has formed an artistic partnership with Salonen and the Philharmonie de Paris performing arts center, which has appointed Salonen as creativity and innovation chair as well as the principal conductor of the Paris Orchestra.

The partnership will include collaborative initiatives between the organizations such as a new Salonen International Conducting Fellowship nurturing conductors, a new series of ballet commissions, pairings of some of the world’s most compelling choreographers and composers — beginning with Benjamin Millepied and Gabriella Smith — as well as joint festivals and a new project featuring immersive experiences that combine music, media and technology.

Salonen, who in June concluded a five-year stint as music director of the San Francisco Symphony, has maintained a relationship with the LA Phil since he exited, leading several programs every season as conductor laureate. He will guide two programs in January.

“The first time I ever came to the U.S. was to conduct the LA Phil,” Salonen said. “Coming from Finland, where we tend toward understatement, the LA Phil’s bold vision for what an orchestra could mean to a city and to the world was surreal — a Californian optimism with which I was not familiar.

“But we understood that an orchestra isn’t just about maintaining tradition; it’s about pushing boundaries, taking risks. Now, no place has been more central to my artistic life than the Los Angeles Philharmonic. It’s an honor and a privilege to continue to work with the musicians and the organization in this new capacity.”