Rafael Payare

Rafael Payare (born 23 February 1980) is a Venezuelan conductor.

Background

Born in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela,[1] Payare's parents were Trina Torres de Payare, an elementary school teacher, and Juan R. Payare, a cartographer for the city.[2] He began his music studies at age 14 at the Núcleo in Puerto la Cruz, learning the French horn.[1] He graduated from the Universidad Nacional Experimental de Las Artes. He and his brother Joel each joined El Sistema.[3] Payare eventually became principal horn of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.

In 2004, Payare began conducting studies with José Antonio Abreu.[1] He won first prize at the Malko Competition for Young Conductors in May 2012,[4] He subsequently became an assistant conductor to Claudio Abbado during Abbado's work with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, and to Daniel Barenboim at the Staatsoper Berlin.

In October 2013, Payare first guest-conducted the Ulster Orchestra.[3] On the basis of this appearance, the orchestra announced his appointment as its 13th chief conductor, effective with the 2014–2015 season, his first lead orchestral post.[5][6] In October 2016, the orchestra announced a contract extension through the 2018–2019 season, and also a change in his title from chief conductor to music director.[7][8] In February 2018, the orchestra announced the scheduled conclusion of his music directorship at the close of the 2018-2019 season.[9] Payare now has the title of conductor laureate of the orchestra.

In the United States, Payare worked as an assistant to Lorin Maazel at the Castleton Festival. Following Maazel's death in 2014, Payare became principal conductor of the festival in 2015.[10] In January 2018, Payare first guest-conducted the San Diego Symphony.[11] On the basis of this concert, the San Diego Symphony named Payare as its next music director, effective 1 July 2019 with an initial four-year contract. Payare assumed the title of music director-designate with immediate effect.[12][13] In October 2020, the San Diego Symphony announced an extension of Payare's contract as music director through the 2025-2026 season.[14]

Payare first guest-conducted the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM) in 2018. He returned as a guest conductor of the OSM in 2019. In January 2021, the OSM announced the appointment of Payare as its next music director, effective with the 2022-2023 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons. He is to hold the title of music director-designate in the 2021-2022 season.[15]

Payare and the American cellist Alisa Weilerstein married on 18 August 2013.[2] The couple have a daughter, and reside in Berlin.[13]

References
  1. "Meet the Maestro: Rafael Payare". Classical Music Magazine. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  2. "Alisa Weilerstein and Rafael Payare". New York Times. 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  3. Una Brankin (2014-09-26). "He's got rock star looks and a very famous cellist wife ... meet the conductor about to make a baton charge on the Ulster Orchestra". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  4. "Malko Competition for Young Conductors: All Winners". Malko Competition for Young Conductors. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  5. "Ulster Orchestra Announce Rafael Payare as Chief Conductor from 2014-15" (Press release). Ulster Orchestra. January 2014. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  6. "Rafael Payare appointed chief conductor in Ulster". Gramophone. 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  7. "Rafael Payare Extends Contract And Is Appointed Music Director" (Press release). Ulster Orchestra. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  8. Alf McCreary (2016-09-26). "Rafael gives Ulster Orchestra the perfect 50th birthday gift". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  9. Alf McCreary (2018-02-22). "Ulster Orchestra baton to be passed on as Payare bows out". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  10. Anne Midgette (2015-06-26). "The Widow: Dietlinde Turban Maazel takes over Castleton". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  11. Christian Hertzog (2018-01-14). "Steven Schick amazes in Roberto Sierra's exuberant percussion concerto". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  12. "Rafael Payare Named Next Music Director of the San Diego Symphony" (PDF) (Press release). San Diego Symphony. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  13. George Varga (2018-02-13). "San Diego Symphony names Rafael Payare as its next music director". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  14. "Rafael Payare's Contract as San Diego Symphony Music Director Extended Through 2026" (PDF) (Press release). San Diego Symphony. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  15. Luc Boulanger (2021-01-07). "Rafael Payare, nouveau maestro de l'OSM". La Presse. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
Cultural offices
Preceded by
JoAnn Falletta		 Principal Conductor and Music Director, Ulster Orchestra
2014–2016 (Principal Conductor),
2016-2019 (Music Director)		 Succeeded by
Daniele Rustioni
Preceded by
Lorin Maazel		 Principal Conductor, Castleton Festival
2015–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
Jahja Ling		 Music Director, San Diego Symphony
2019–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
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