Conductor

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and conductor Cristian Mӑcelaru join Interlochen Arts Academy students and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra for a vibrant celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday and the power of the youth creative voice.

Imagine US: Yo-Yo Ma and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250 includes a captivating orchestral program—Reena Esmail’s “RE|member,” a reimagined performance of Charles Ives’s Symphony No. 4, and a new cello concerto by Wynton Marsalis—plus multidisciplinary elements created by students from all seven of the Academy’s artistic disciplines.

EPSG:4326

Imagine US: Yo-Yo Ma and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250

Boston Symphony Hall

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday and the power of the youth creative voice with a vibrant performance by Interlochen Arts Academy students and members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, featuring cellist Joshua McClendon.

Imagine US: Joshua McClendon and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday and the power of the youth creative voice with a vibrant performance by Interlochen Arts Academy students and members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, featuring cellist Joshua McClendon.

Imagine US: Joshua McClendon and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250 includes a captivating orchestral program—Reena Esmail’s “RE|member,” a reimagined performance of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 4, and a new cello concerto by Wynton Marsalis featuring guest soloist Joshua McClendon—and multidisciplinary elements created by students from all seven of the Academy’s artistic disciplines. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Designate Cristian Mӑcelaru conducts this one-of-a-kind convergence of eminent and emerging artists.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and conductor Cristian Mӑcelaru join Interlochen Arts Academy students for a vibrant celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday and the power of the youth creative voice. Imagine US: Yo-Yo Ma and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250 includes a captivating orchestral program—Reena Esmail’s “RE|member,” a reimagined performance of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 4, and a new cello concerto by Wynton Marsalis—plus multidisciplinary elements created by students from all seven of the Academy’s artistic disciplines.

Imagine US: Yo-Yo Ma & Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250

Interlochen Center for the Arts

Celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. in a program highlighting some of the most influential African American artists and composers of our time. Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations, her tribute to civil rights leader Rosa Parks, is infused with themes of struggle, resistance and dignity. Bass Morris Robinson narrates an original poem by Rita Dove, former Poet Laureate Consultant to the Library of Congress, against Barber’s solemn Adagio for Strings, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wynton Marsalis takes the 12-bar blues and explodes it into a lyrical, kaleidoscopic history of American music.

American Voices

Cincinnati Music Hall

Music Director Cristian Mӑcelaru leads a program featuring two music innovators from two different centuries — Beethoven and Bjarnason. Beethoven was considered the greatest music innovator of his generation, and piano powerhouse Daniil Trifonov returns to Music Hall to lend his signature finesse and emotional sensitivity to the composer’s elegant Second Piano Concerto. Then, the Orchestra performs the final installment of Icelandic composer Daníel Bjarnason’s multi-year Trilogy for Orchestra.

Trifonov Plays Beethoven

The trumpet shall sound. Join the CSO, the May Festival Chorus and an all-star cast of soloists for Handel’s Messiah. Music Director Cristian Mӑcelaru conducts one of his most cherished works, featuring joyful movements like the famous Hallelujah Chorus that have become forever and ever holiday traditions. This is the Messiah experience of the season!

Handel’s Messiah

This Thanksgiving, explore cultural roots and the concept of “home.” Simon’s Tales draws on African American folklore, traditions, and spirituals, while Bielawa connects to violin solist Tessa Lark's American roots in Appalachia in her work PULSE. Copland’s theme from Appalachian Spring, based on the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts,” evokes simplicity, peace, and community. In contrast, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, written during a period of personal struggle, reflects his Czech heritage and the political turmoil of his homeland.

Dvořák Symphony No. 7

One of the greatest musicians of our lifetime, cellist Yo-Yo Ma reunites with his friend Cristian Mӑcelaru for a special one-night-only event. The program opens with two powerful, slashing chords from Brahms’ Tragic Overture that set the evening in motion. Then, Yo-Yo Ma brings his unmatched sensitivity and technical prowess to Elgar’s Cello Concerto, one of the most profound and emotionally charged works in the repertoire. As a final treat, Mӑcelaru gifts everyone a little piece of his native Romania with Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody.

Yo-yo Ma Plays Elgar

Cristian Mӑcelaru makes his highly anticipated debut as CSO Music Director in this celebratory and historic program you won’t want to miss. Time stands still as opening pedal tones in Anna Clyne’s Abstractions draw you right in. Then, acclaimed pianist Hélène Grimaud reunites with the CSO for one of Mӑcelaru’s favorite concertos, Gershwin’s jazzy and sophisticated Concerto in F. The evening caps off with Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, full of lilting waltzes and heart-wrenching swells that lead to a triumphant grand finale

Cristian Mǎcelaru’s Debut

Delight is guaranteed (and toe-tapping encouraged!) in Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, an irresistibly joyful whirlwind of effervescent folk-dance spirit. Gorgeous melodies blossom and entwine in Rachmaninoff’s rapturously romantic Symphony No. 2.

Romantic Rachmaninof

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

Le Tombeau de Couperin mixes Baroque inspiration with Ravel’s trademark orchestral color and flair. Louise Farrenc’s Overture No. 1 courses with drama from its grand beginning to its rousing finale. Written when Bizet was just 17 years old, his First Symphony is a stunning display of youthful genius and exuberance.

French Impressions

Experience Stravinsky’s The Firebird like never before. Paired with the storytelling power of larger-than-life puppets designed by South African director and creator Janni Younge, world-renowned for the award-winning play War Horse, this evocative production draws from the symbolism of the original ballet choreography and reinterprets it in a contemporary South African setting. Music Director Cristian Mӑcelaru, the CSO and expert puppeteers and dancers from Janni Younge Productions come together in this sonic and theatrical depiction of The Firebird that builds to a dramatic, fiery finish. Mahler’s unfinished tone poem Totenfeier opens the program — a deeply introspective and intense experience, the work ultimately developed into the opening of his monumental Resurrection Symphony.

Conductor

Cristian Mӑcelaru

Events

Upcoming events

24 - 25 Apr, 2026

Stravinsky’s Firebird · Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Past events

13 - 15 Mar, 2026

Imagine US: Yo-Yo Ma and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250 · Interlochen Center for the Arts

Mar 10, 2026

Imagine US: Joshua McClendon and Interlochen Center for the Arts Celebrate America at 250 · Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Tragic Overture by Brahms

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Piano Concerto No. 2 by Beethoven

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Symphony No. 7 by Dvořák

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Adagio for Strings by Barber

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Montgomery Variations by Bonds

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Abstractions by Clyne

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Appalachian Spring by Copland

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Blues Symphony by Marsalis

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Tales: a folklore symphony for orchestra by Simon

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Messiah by Handel

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in The Firebird by Stravinsky

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 by Enescu

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Der Rosenkavalier Suite by Strauss

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Cello Concerto by Elgar

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Piano Concerto in F Major by Gershwin

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Totenfeier by Mahler

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in I Want to Be Alive by Bjarnason

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

About

Cristian Mӑcelaru hasn't added a bio