Semyon Bychkov named Paris Opera music director; will lead Eugene Onegin with Ralph Fiennes

The conductor Semyon Bychkov has been announced as the Paris Opera’s next music director and will conduct Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin in a production directed by Ralph Fiennes. Born in St. Petersburg and now 73, Bychkov has had a long international career since leaving Russia at 22, serving as chief conductor of major American and European orchestras and living in France for about 35 years with his wife, the pianist Marielle Labèque.

He said he sees the Paris Orchestra as rooted in French identity and emphasized protecting that distinctiveness. Bychkov and Fiennes developed the Onegin production together, working with singers including the baritone Boris Pinkhasovich and the soprano Ruzan Mantashyan; rehearsals began in early December and singers described close collaboration and detailed work on acting and musical colour.

Bychkov also recounted being encouraged to take the post after orchestra members pressed him at a dinner following a concert. The Paris Opera has been without a music director since Gustavo Dudamel’s surprise resignation in 2023 after two seasons. According to the announcement, Bychkov becomes music director designate in August and will assume the role full time in August 2028; the company and its director general, Alexander Neef, said talks intensified last fall as they sought the right match.

Key Topics

Culture, Semyon Bychkov, Paris Opera, Eugene Onegin, Ralph Fiennes, Marielle Labèque