Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro Announces Next Music Director

Brazilian conductor Felipe Prazeres will officially assume the role as of August 12, 2022

Felipe Prazeres, 45, succeeds conductor Ira Levin as music director of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro (TMRJ) orchestra — a position that was vacant for eight months. 

Having conducted the TMRJ orchestra for the first time at their 2022 season opening, Prazeres’ official debut in his new role will be held on August 12, 2022, featuring a program dedicated to French music. 

Concertmaster of Brazil’s Petrobras Symphony Orchestra (OPES) and conductor of OPES’s pop projects, Prazeres has served as assistant conductor to Isaac Karabtchevsky and has led orchestras such as the World Youth Symphony, OPES, Bahia Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and SESI Camerata.

Additionally, he is the artistic director and co-founder of the Johann Sebastian Rio Orchestra and serves as concertmaster of the UFRJ Symphony Orchestra, where he has also conducted concerts since 2009.

Born into a family of musicians, Prazeres’ father is renowned conductor Armando Prazeres and his brother Carlos also conducts. Prazeres began his music studies at age 11 and is a graduate of Uni-Rio and Academia de Santa Cecilia studying with Paulo Bosisio and Domenico Nordio.

“The Artistic Board is very happy with the arrival of maestro Felipe Prazeres, a musician of excellence who will contribute enormously to the Municipal Theater and our season!” said Eric Herrero, TMRJ’s artistic director, according to a Portuguese news outlet. 

“I am very happy and honored to assume as the new conductor of the Orchestra, and it is extremely emblematic to be chosen by the musicians themselves!” said Prazeres, as reported in Revisita Musea. “We will work hard and I want to contribute so that the Municipal is always a great reference in Rio de Janeiro.”