Xian Zhang & the Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Among conductor Xian Zhang’s many accomplishments are eight seasons of being Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  With the Philadelphia Orchestra she won a Grammy Award for the Deutsche Grammophon release Letters for Future.  As guest conductor she has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.   Quite impressive!

 Add to those accomplishments, she is the new Music Director of the Seattle Symphony having signed a five-year contract beginning in the 2025-2026 season.  Another land mark for her, Zhang is the first woman to lead a major West Coast orchestra. 

Congratulations to Xian Zhang and many thanks to the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for choosing a woman conductor who will lead your orchestra into the future.

 

#BringingBackBranscombe

Women Conductors Break Some Barriers

 

The Vienna Philharmonic was founded in 1844.  For the first time in their 180 years of male exclusivity, the Vienna Philharmonic has invited a woman to conduct a subscription concert.  180 years of misogyny! 

Breaking that 180 year record, Lithuanian born Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla will make her debut with the orchestra on May 3, 2025.   She is the former music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony, has conducted at the Bavarian State Opera and the Proms.  She is the first female conductor to sign an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon.   

Another hurdle for women conductors was made at the Metropolitan Opera.  Since the 1880s the Metropolitan Opera has had only four women conductors grace their podium including Sarah Caldwell, Simone Young, Jane Glover and Susanna Mälkki.

On April 19^th Oksana Lyniv conducted Puccini’s “Turandot,” April 20^th Speranza Scappucci conducted Puccini’s “La Rodine,” April 23^rd saw Marin Alsop conduct the Met premiere of John Adams’ “El Niño” and Xian Zhang conducted “Madama Butterfly” on April 26^th.  Four women conductors, in just one week, broke through the Metropolitan Opera’s male dominated podium. 

 

The creative process of making music at the highest levels is a lifetime of work, study and fortitude.  We have now witnessed nine accomplished conductors make history by breaking down barriers that have existed for over 100 years.

My question has always been, “Why do we not have a woman conductor as a Music Director of a major symphony orchestra or opera house?”  WHY?  It’s time to tear down the misogynistic barriers around the conductor’s podium.  The word “conductor” has no gender.