France’s Orchestre Nationale Capitole Toulouse Appoints Next Music Director

Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski will be Designated Music Director as of September 1, 2024, for the first season, and Music Director until August 2029

Conductor and pianist Tarmo Peltokoski, 22, succeeds Russian conductor Tugan Sokhiev, who has held the role since 2005 but resigned from his post at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War. 

A unanimous decision from the Orchestre Nationale Capitole Toulouse’s musicians and management, Peltokoski’s appointment will see him lead recordings with the orchestra and conduct the Opéra national du Capitole for six productions over five seasons.

In the interest of developing a long-term artistic project with the musicians, Peltokoski will spend 12 to 14 weeks of the year to the Toulouse symphonic formation, including concerts in Toulouse, the Occitanie region, plus national and international tours. 

Peltokoski conducted the orchestra twice this year to high acclaim in Saint-Jean-de-Luz of the Ravel Festival and the La Halle aux Grains. Before his role as music director designate, Peltokoski will return to conduct Orchestre Nationale Capitole Toulouse in July 2023 for a summer tour including a performance at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

Beginning his conducting studies at age 14 with renowned Finnish conductor Jorma Panula, Peltokoski studies at the Sibelius Academy with Sakari Oramo. His other mentors include Esa-Pekka Salonen, Hannu Lintu, and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. As a pianist, he studies with Antti Hotti at the Sibelius Academy and has appeared solo with all the major Finnish orchestras.

Additionally, he is currently the principal guest conductor of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and permanent guest conductor of the Netherlands’ Rotterdam Philharmonic.

“The appointment of a new conductor is an important step in the life of the Orchestra but also for Toulouse music lovers,” said Mayor of Toulouse and President of Toulouse Métropole Jean-Luc Moudenc. “I express the wish that from the palpable alchemy during the first meeting between Tarmo Peltokoski and the Toulouse public, a close relationship will be born, nourished by the creative excellence he demonstrates.”

“I am very happy and moved to join [this orchestra],” Peltokoski expressed. “My relationship with the musicians of the Orchester national du Capitole was instantly pleasant and very inspiring musically. Having conducted the orchestra twice recently, I was able to measure the fantastic work done by Tugan Sokhiev over the years, which has made this orchestra one of the best in Europe.

“It was with great humility and excitement that I accepted to become its new musical director, and also to work at the Opéra national du Capitole. I can't wait to come back and conduct the orchestra and meet the public in Toulouse and elsewhere,” he said.

A short interview with Peltokoski can be viewed below.