Lahav Shani debuts as chief conductor of Munich Philharmonic

Lahav Shani has officially begun his tenure as the chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, marking the start of a new concert season at the Isarphilharmonie. His appointment ends a four-year period without a chief conductor following the 2022 dismissal of Valery Gergiev, who was removed after failing to distance himself from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

To celebrate Shani’s debut, the orchestra is hosting guest pianist Martha Argerich, who will perform Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, followed by Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’.

Shani’s appointment has been accompanied by political debate due to his role as music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and questions regarding his stance on the Gaza conflict. This led to the Flanders Festival Ghent previously uninviting the orchestra and Shani, a move criticized by some as antisemitic. Despite these controversies, the Munich Philharmonic has expressed strong support for Shani, stating that the situation has strengthened the bond between the conductor and the orchestra.