Ludovic Morlot, the highly regarded chief conductor of Theatre Royal de La Monnaie in Brussels, decided to step down from is position, citing difference with the orchestra.
Morlot released a statement saying, “I feel that the orchestra and I have not managed to reach a consensus on an artistic vision, and therefore, for the sake of their development as well as my own, I have made this decision to stand down.”
Morlot, who won accolades for his work as music director of the Seattle Symphony, is the third music director to leave La Monnaie in six years. Japanese conductor Kazusho Ono quit in June 2008 and Mark Wigglesworth lasted just one season.
La Monnaie isn’t the only theatre who has been dealing with the sudden departure of their conductor. Merlots departure makes him the latest in a line of prominent conductors who have left their posts this year, some on short notice, including Franz Welser-Möst, who resigned as general music director of the Vienna State Opera just as the season began, forcing the company to find replacements for his 34 scheduled performances, and Riccardo Muti, who left the strife-riven Rome Opera.
Peter de Caluwe, La Maonnaie’s general and artistic director, said in a statement that “although I very much regret this situation, I respect Ludovic Morlot’s decision to make this radical change to his future plans.”
Morlot will leave his position with La Monnaie at the end of the month.
