Ludovic Morlot

His tenure in Seattle formed a hugely significant period in the musical journey of the orchestra. Ludovic’s innovative programming encompassed not only his choice of repertoire, but theatrical productions and performances outside the traditional concert hall space. There were numerous collaborations with musicians from different genres, commissions and world premieres. Some of these projects, including John Luther Adams’ Become Ocean, Aaron Jay Kernis’ Violin Concerto performed by James Ehnes and an exploration of Dutilleux’s music, have earned the orchestra five Grammy Awards, as well as the distinction of being named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. Under Ludovic’s baton, 19 recordings have been released under the Seattle Symphony Media label which was launched in 2014.

Since 2019 Ludovic is an Associate Artist of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he has had a close relationship over many years. Ludovic is also Artistic Director and a founding member of the National Youth Orchestra of China. In 2019 he led their European Tour, having conducted their inaugural concerts in New York and China two years earlier.

In the 2020-21 season Ludovic makes his debut with Orchestre de Paris, San Francisco Symphony, Barcelona Symphony and the Royal Scottish National Orchestras, and makes return visits to the Bergen Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Iceland Symphony and the West Australian Symphony Orchestras.

Ludovic has conducted the Berliner Philharmoniker, Royal Concertgebouw, Czech Philharmonic, Dresden Staaksapelle, London Philharmonic, Budapest Festival, Seoul Philharmonic, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras. He has appeared at the BBC Proms, Wien Modern, Edinburgh, and Aspen festivals. Other recent notable performances have included the New York Philharmonic, Chicago, Houston, Minnesota and Detroit Symphony Orchestras. Ludovic has a particularly strong connection with the Boston Symphony Orchestra having been the Seiji Ozawa Fellowship Conductor at Tanglewood and subsequently appointed assistant conductor for the orchestra. Since then he has conducted the orchestra in subscription concerts in Boston, at Tanglewood and on a tour to the west coast of America.

Ludovic was Chief Conductor of La Monnaie for three years (2012-2014). During this time he conducted several new productions including La Clemenza di Tito, Jenufa and Pelléas et Mélisande as well as concert performances in both Brussels and at the Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival.

Trained as a violinist, Ludovic studied conducting at the Pierre Monteux School (USA) with Charles Bruck and Michael Jinbo. He continued his education in London at the Royal Academy of Music and then at the Royal College of Music as recipient of the Norman del Mar Conducting Fellowship. Ludovic is Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington School of Music in Seattle and a Visiting Artist at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2014 in recognition of his significant contribution to music.