ASO's Stutzmann Reflects on Bayreuth Triumph, Vision for Atlanta Sound

Nathalie Stutzmann, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, recently conducted Richard Wagner's Rienzi at Germany's Bayreuth Festival, marking the opera's first-ever performance at the historic Festspielhaus. The production served as the centerpiece of the festival's 150th anniversary celebration. In an interview with Artsatl.org, Stutzmann discussed her four years leading the ASO, a tenure she recently extended by another three years. She described her approach as one of constant renewal, saying musicians must "restart" each day rather than rely on past success. She has also added 21 new musicians to the orchestra during her time there. Stutzmann elaborated on her goal of cultivating an "Austro-Germanic sound" rooted in composers like Beethoven, Bruckner and Strauss, aiming to give the ASO a distinctive identity rather than a generic international polish. She referenced her mixed German and French heritage as part of that musical connection. Looking ahead, Stutzmann said a concert version of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde remains on her wish list for Atlanta, an opera the city has never staged. She also previewed Wagner-related programming this season, including the first act of Die Walküre, and confirmed future Bayreuth projects slated for 2029.