The Hungarian National Philharmonic has announced the appointment of conductor and oboist François Leleux as its first-ever Principal Guest Artist.
His four-year tenure will begin in the 2025/26 season. A long-time collaborator with the orchestra, Leleux expressed his excitement about the new role: “This is such a privilege! We’ve been making music together for many years, and this new title only strengthens and deepens our connection. I look forward to continuing this wonderful journey and sharing even more great music together.
François will be presented with a certificate at Liszt Academy on the 4 March 2026 before play-directing the Orchestra in concert, performing Antonio Pasculli’s Oboe Concerto on themes from Donizetti’s La Favorita.
Renowned for his irrepressible energy, exuberance, and musical clarity, François has previously featured as Artistic Partner of Camerata Salzburg, Artist-in-Association with Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and Artist-in-Residence with orchestras such as hr-Sinfonieorchester, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Berner Symphonieorchester, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife.
In the 2024/25 season, François’ conducting engagements include appearances with Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and Robert Schumann Philharmonie Chemnitz. François furthers his international profile as a play-conductor via his continued close association with Camerata Salzburg and appears as a soloist with the SWR Symphonieorchester under conductor Andres Orozco-Estrada and Orchestre de Paris under Roberto González-Monjas. Additional season highlights include a residency with Orquesta de Valencia as both conductor and soloist, François’ first appearance with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra as conductor, and the first of several collaborations with Kammerakademie Potsdam in anticipation of Leleux taking over as Artistic Director of the Kammerakademie Potsdam in 2025/26.
As an oboist, François has performed with orchestras such as New York Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, and Swedish Radio and NHK Symphony orchestras. A dedicated chamber musician, he regularly performs worldwide with long-standing recital partners Lisa Batiashvili, Eric Le Sage and Emmanuel Strosser, as well as with his critically acclaimed woodwind sextet Les Vents Français who in 2024/25 will give numerous concerts across Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Japan.