Boston Symphony Orchestra Names Andris Nelsons New Music Director

Earlier this morning, Andris Nelsons, the young and fiery Latvian conductor, was appointed to the top spot with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Nelsons will be the orchestra's 15th music director, succeeding the injury-plagued James Levine.

Andris' appointment was announced by chairman of the BSO Board of Trustees Ted Kelly, Vice Chairs Stephen B. Kay and Robert O'Block and the BSO's Managing Director Mark Volpe.

At only 34 years old, Andris Nelsons is the youngest music director to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra in over a century.

Speaking by phone from Amsterdam, where he's conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nelsons told The Boston Globe that he'll starting looking for an apartment later this summer.

More importantly, Nelsons told The Globe's Geoff Edgers that he was thrilled to be coming to Boston.

"Of course, I'm very obsessed with music most," said Nelsons. "I think it's very important to be part of the Boston society and the people who live in Boston. I always feel that music is food for our souls and they will be hungry and continue to be part of the Boston Symphony Orchestra family."

In a statement released by the BSO just a few hours ago, Andris Nelsons is quoted further:

"I am deeply honored and touched that the Boston Symphony Orchestra has appointed me its next music director, as it is one of the highest achievements a conductor could hope for in his lifetime. Each time I have worked with the BSO, I have been inspired by how effectively it gets to the heart of the music, always leaving its audience with a great wealth of emotions. So it is with great joy that I truly look forward to joining this wonderful musical family and getting to know the beautiful city of Boston and the community that so clearly loves its great orchestra. As I consider my future with the Boston Symphony, I imagine us working closely together to bring the deepest passion and love that we all share for music to ever greater numbers of music fans in Boston, at Tanglewood and throughout the world."

Interestingly, there is no mention of the length of Nelsons' contract--at least not according to the official BSO press release.

Last summer, The New Yorker's Alex Ross detailed Nelsons's Tanglewood appearances with the BSO. Back then, even, it was clear that Andris Nelsons was a name at the top of Boston's search list.

Nelsons will return to Tanglewood this summer, leading the BSO and Tanglewood Festival Chorus in Verdi's Requiem on July 27. His wife, Kristīne Opolais, will sing the solo soprano role.

Together, Nelsons and Opolais have a 17-month-old daughter.

Andris Nelsons will make his first appearance as music director designate this October, in a concert including Brahms' Symphony No. 3, Wagner's Siegfried Idyll and the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25 with soloist Paul Lewis.

Born in Riga, Latvia, Nelsons began his professional career as a trumpet player in the Latvian National Opera Orchestra before taking up the baton. Since 2008, he has been music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England--Sir Simon Rattle's old job.

Finally, as The Boston Globe duly notes, Nelsons is the third youngest conductor to be appointed BSO music director since the orchestra's 1881 founding. Georg Henschel was 31 when he became the orchestra's first music director; the legendary Arthur Nikisch was 33 when he opened his first season in 1889.