EarRelevant Staff | 18 JUN 2025
ATLANTA, Georgia— The Atlanta Opera has appointed Mexican conductor Iván López Reynoso as its new principal conductor, beginning with the 2025–26 season. The announcement, made Monday, marks a pivotal new chapter for the company as it continues to expand its national profile and artistic ambitions.
López Reynoso, 35, earned critical praise during his Atlanta Opera debut in the 2024–25 season with a performance of Verdi’s Macbeth. His interpretation of the dark, brooding score drew attention from both audiences and critics. ArtsATL described the performance as “taut and polished,” while EarRelevant cited his “balance of urgency and lyrical finesse.”
He will return to the podium for the company’s spring 2026 production of Puccini’s Turandot and is expected to conduct at least one production annually through 2028.
“Our recent collaboration on Macbeth revealed a rare artistic chemistry,” said Tomer Zvulun, the company’s general and artistic director. “Iván is not only a consummate musician with an extraordinary grasp of the operatic repertoire, but he is also a true man of the theatre.”
Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, López Reynoso has forged a growing international career. A graduate of the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he studied under Gonzalo Romeu, he made his operatic debut at age 20 with The Marriage of Figaro and has since conducted more than 50 operas, including Aida, Carmen, La bohème, The Flying Dutchman, and Madama Butterfly. He is also an accomplished countertenor.
His previous leadership roles include artistic director of the Orquesta del Teatro de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, principal guest conductor of Spain’s Oviedo Filarmonía, and Erster Kapellmeister at Germany’s Staatstheater Braunschweig. He has appeared at leading houses and festivals including the Rossini Opera Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, and The Dallas Opera.
López Reynoso succeeds Arthur Fagen, who served as music director of The Atlanta Opera for two decades and now holds the title of music director emeritus. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Atlanta Opera: atlantaopera.org
- Iván López Reynoso: ivanlopezreynoso.com
Read more by EarRelevant Staff.
.png){kind=logo}