Martin Rajna Named New Director of Luxembourg Philharmonic

On Thursday 9 January 2025, the Philharmonie Luxembourg announce the appointment of Martin Rajna as the new Music Director of the Luxembourg Philharmonic (orchestra) starting on 26 September for an initial contract of four years.

At just 29 years old, Martin Rajna is already an accomplished conductor and artist in his home country Hungary, having been Principal Conductor of the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra since 2021 and moreover the Chief Conductor of the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest since 2023. 

Born in 1995 in Dunaújváros, Hungary, Martin Rajna has quickly made his mark on the international music scene. A graduate of the prestigious Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and the Franz Liszt Academy in Weimar, he has earned widespread acclaim for his exceptional interpretations of both classical and contemporary repertoire. In the present season Rajna is making significant international debuts, including with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of Teatro La Fenice and the Luxembourg Philharmonic. In November 2024, he led concerts with our orchestra both at the Philharmonie and on tour performing works by Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak featuring the distinguished Luxembourgish-Dutch cellist and Echo Rising Star Benjamin Kruithof. 

"When I received an invitation to conduct the Luxembourg Philharmonic last year, I jumped at the chance. My imagination being instantly captured by the orchestra’s signature sound, the musicians’ outstanding talent and enthusiasm deeply impressed me, and I can say without a doubt that our two concerts in November 2024 were a milestone in my career to date", recalled Martin Rajna.

"We are thrilled about this new chapter for the Luxembourg Philharmonic", said Matthew Studdert-Kennedy, Head of Artistic Planning at the Philharmonie Luxembourg. "With Rajna’s arrival, the orchestra is poised to embark on an exciting journey. His bold and modern vision perfectly aligns with our commitment to innovation, all while respecting the rich musical heritage that defines us."

Reflecting on his appointment, Martin Rajna shared his enthusiasm: "When, out of the blue, I was offered the post of Music Director of the Luxembourg Philharmonic from the 2026/27 season, I was absolutely delighted to accept. From my own experience, I can affirm that the Philharmonie Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Philharmonic combine very special qualities: in a breathtaking concert hall, an incredibly professional and dedicated management team works to create both the present and the future of an outstanding orchestra, while also ensuring the diversity of the classical music scene in Luxembourg and its surroundings, with quality being the main driver of their ethos. I am very much looking forward to working together with this team and these musicians, and I can hardly wait to get started on my new mission: to live up to the standards the Luxembourg Philharmonic has already set and to put all my energies into further enhancing the orchestra’s reputation and standing worldwide."

Martin Rajna plans to lead captivating programmes, spanning classical masterpieces to contemporary creations, with a particular focus on making music accessible to the widest possible audience.

Eric Thill, Luxembourg’s Minister of Culture, stated: "I am delighted that our National Orchestra has found an exceptional successor to Gustavo Gimeno, whose leadership over the past decade has propelled the orchestra to unprecedented heights. I am convinced Martin Rajna will continue this legacy of excellence and bring fresh vision to the years ahead."

Pierre Ahlborn, President of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, said: "Our Orchestra deserves one of the best conductors in order to pursue the enormous progress made during Gustavo Gimeno’s tenure. With Martin Rajna we are confident that we will pursue our orchestra’s rise with a young and talented music director, coming with a different, but very rich background. We wish him and our Philharmonic a fruitful collaboration and the best of luck!"

Stephan Gehmacher, Director General of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, added: "From the very first rehearsal, Martin Rajna captivated the orchestra with his natural charisma and profound understanding of music. His dedication to advancing the Luxembourg Philharmonic both at home and internationally resonates deeply with our goals. Together, we aim to inspire new generations of music lovers while maintaining the highest artistic standards."

Background

The Luxembourg Philharmonic was founded in 1933 as part of the broadcasting activities of Radio Luxembourg (RTL) and has been publicly administered since 1996. In 2005 it took up residence at the Philharmonie Luxembourg with which it forms one legal body since 2012.

Its 99 musicians, hailing from 25 different countries, are currently led by Gustavo Gimeno, who is celebrating his tenth and final season as the orchestra’s conductor. His predecessors were Henri Pensis, Carl Melles, Louis de Froment, Leopold Hager (appointed honorary conductor in 2021), David Shallon, Bramwell Tovey and Emmanuel Krivine.