Kent Nagano has extended his contract as music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal) until 2020.  He took up the role in 2006 after two years as the orchestra’s music advisor and has renewed his contract twice. ‘My attachment to Montreal and the close relationships I have developed with the OSM’s talented musicians over the years,’ said Nagano, ‘are among the reasons that prompted me to renew my commitment to the Orchestra. Montreal is a friendly city that abounds with creativity and a vibrant culture where European and North American cultures mesh perfectly.’

Nagano is currently concluding his position as music director of the Bavarian State Opera and will assume a similar role – Generalmusikdirector and Chefdirigent – of the Hamburg State Opera at the start of the 2015-16 season. At the start of the 2013-14 season, he also took on the role of principal guest conductor and artistic advisor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. 

With the Montreal SO, Nagano has recorded for ECM, Analekta and Sony Classical (including a number of well-received Beethoven discs and a Mahler song collection with Christian Gerhaher).