The Austrian maestro, who recently struggled with health problems such as a herniated disc and two cancer operations, has been at the head of the ensemble since 2002.
Passion and friendship
“It is a special and emotional moment when I think regarding what we have achieved together,” the conductor from Upper Austria is quoted as saying in a broadcast from the orchestra: “The most important thing to me is the shared passion, the inspiring creativity and the lasting friendship that I was able to build with our musicians, audiences and fans worldwide.”
Since taking office in 2002, Welser-Möst, now 63, has appointed 52 of the current 105 orchestra musicians. “We will bitterly miss his passion, his intellect, his curiosity and his deep understanding of music,” said orchestra president André Gremillet.
