Cristian Măcelaru

The conducting career of Cristian Măcelaru is relatively young, for he did not even pick up a baton seriously until age 26. Măcelaru has rapidly established strong relationships with top orchestras in both the U.S. and Europe, and he was named chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne in 2019. Măcelaru made his debut in 2010, leading the Houston Grand Opera in a performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. In 2018, Măcelaru led the Philadelphia Orchestra in a recording of Michael Torke's Unconquered, and the following year, he was heard once again with the Philadelphia Orchestra in a recording of Wynton Marsalis' new violin concerto, played by star Nicola Benedetti. In 2023, he led the Bavarian Radio Symphony and Chorus on the album 1923, and he also conducted the WDR Symphony Orchestra on an album of music by Bartók.