In a surprising turn of events, Andris Nelsons will step down as the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in the summer of 2027, concluding his tenure after 13 seasons.
The orchestra’s announcement on Friday was notably direct and clear.
“The decision not to renew his contract was made by the BSO’s board of trustees,” the statement read, highlighting a difference in future vision between the BSO and Nelsons, despite their mutual commitment to maintaining high performance standards. This statement was released by the BSO trustees and CEO Chad Smith.
Currently, Nelsons, 47, a five-time Grammy award recipient, is in the midst of a U.S. tour with the Vienna Philharmonic. He was scheduled to conduct the orchestra in Naples, Florida, on Friday evening.
In a letter addressed to the BSO musicians and staff, which his management agency released, Nelsons expressed his determination to continue his work. “While this outcome was neither anticipated nor desired, my commitment to you and our mission remains strong,” he wrote. He emphasized that the decision was unrelated to artistic performance or successes achieved during his leadership, focusing instead on preserving the music, ensuring the orchestra’s stability, and maintaining high artistic standards.
Nelsons first appeared with the BSO in March 2011, stepping in for James Levine at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Levine had announced his departure as BSO music director at the end of the 2010-11 season due to health issues.
Nelson was announced as music director in May 2013 and given a five-year contract starting with the 2014-15 season. The orchestra announced contract extensions in 2015 and 2020, then in January 2024 said he was given an evergreen rolling contract. He was bestowed an added title of head of conducting at Tanglewood, the music and educational center that is the orchestra’s summer home.
The last extension was announced a few months after Smith, who had been with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, started as the BSO’s chief executive.
Nelsons was music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Britain from 2008-09 and has been chief conductor of Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in Germany since the 2017-18 season. He married soprano Kristine Opolais in 2011, and in 2018 they announced their divorce.
Boston will have the third vacancy among major U.S. orchestra. Gustavo Dudamel is leaving the Los Angeles Philharmonic this summer after 17 seasons to become music director of the New York Philharmonic and Franz Welser-Möst will depart the Cleveland Orchestra at the end of 2026-27 after 25 seasons.
In addition, Klaus Mäkelä takes over the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2027-28, when he also starts as chief conductor the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Netherlands.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
