January 1, 2025, saw a sea change at the New York Philharmonic: Matías Tarnopolsky became the Orchestra’s President and CEO. When his appointment was announced on December 2, 2024, he had said: “To reunite with the extraordinary New York Philharmonic, as it anticipates the arrival of a visionary new artistic leader and inhabits the beautifully remade David Geffen Hall, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Gustavo Dudamel, my dear friend and musical colleague of two decades, sees music as an inspiring, essential part of the human spirit, as a force for good, and as a vital living art form for all — we share a deep belief in this urgent idea.”
Tarnopolsky served at the NY Phil as Vice President, Artistic Planning, from 2005 to 2009, before becoming executive and artistic director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, then president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. When he traveled to New York a few days after the announcement, he reflected in a recent conversation, “It was deeply moving to see many friends and familiar faces among the Philharmonic Musicians, Board, and Staff, and also to meet those who were new to me. I am extremely grateful to Peter May and Oscar Tang, our Board Co-Chairmen, and for the warmth of the welcome and the trust placed in me. Together with Gustavo, everyone is energized by the possibilities for the future.”
On attending the concert that night, he says, “I was reminded of that visceral feeling of the New York Philharmonic sound, which goes right to your core — it’s astounding, and there’s nothing quite like it. That sound in the magnificent environment of the Wu Tsai Theater simply raises everything to another level.”
Tarnopolsky describes his return to New York as a full-circle moment. “My first business trip when I worked here last was to Caracas to see this phenomenon of a young conductor everyone was talking about: Gustavo Dudamel. Not only was it the beginning of a beautiful friendship; that trip led to Gustavo’s New York Philharmonic debut. Now, to see him launch not only a new chapter but also a whole new era for the Orchestra as Music and Artistic Director in 2026 is profoundly exciting, of course for the Orchestra, and for the city, and the world, too.”
Asked what led to his career in orchestral leadership, the Argentinian-born and London-raised Tarnopolsky recalls, “My mother is a pianist who specializes in Spanish and Latin American music. I played piano as a child, but when I was 11 I decided I didn’t want to study piano anymore, so she suggested I try the clarinet. I fell in love with it, but in addition to playing I spent a good deal of time going to concerts with my parents’ support and encouragement, and organizing concerts myself. As a teenager, I attended a performance at the Proms, in the Royal Albert Hall, and found myself enveloped by the incredible sound of a great symphony orchestra. Then and there I decided to devote myself to sharing that glorious feeling with as many people as possible.”
That impulse, which burns bright to this day, drives his aspirations for the New York Philharmonic. “Music is the most powerful force for good in society. Give a child a musical instrument, or a chance to sing in a choir, and the world will be a better place. This Orchestra has a vital role to play in creating a more just, inclusive, equitable, joyful society for all New Yorkers. I am committed to that ideal, as are Gustavo and everyone at the NY Phil. Our most animating challenge is to dream big together about what our role in New York’s multifaceted communities will be.”
Tarnopolsky’s fondest memory from his time in New York involves the Orchestra’s most impactful community endeavor. “The Concerts in the Parks are among our greatest gifts to New York,” he says. “I’ll never forget the thrill of hearing the Philharmonic perform in Central Park and watching my children, then toddlers, chase the fireflies.”
All hopes are in reach. “What a profound and awesome responsibility we carry today. With a magnificent new home in David Geffen Hall, an auspicious new generation of musicians who’ve joined the remarkable veterans in the Orchestra, and the imminent arrival of Gustavo Dudamel — it’s the most exhilarating moment to be reuniting with the mighty New York Philharmonic!”
Monica Parks is Director, Publications, at the New York Philharmonic.
