Franz Welser-Möst will remain as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra for at least another decade, after extending his contract until the end of the 2017-18 season. This will see him at the helm for the orchestra’s centennial year, 2018.

Franz Welser-Möst: happy at Cleveland (photo: Roger Mastorianni)

The announcement coincided with the unveiling of plans to both bring back ballet to the orchestra’s summer home the Blossom Music Center for the first time in 25 years – in collaboration with Miami City Ballet – and staged opera to Severance Hall, beginning with the Marriage of Figaro in March.

Welser-Möst took up the position in September 2002. The following May his initial five-year contract was extended to 2012. Initiatives he has since introduced include launching biennial residencies at Vienna’s Musikverein, regular residencies with the Lucerne Festival and annual residencies in Miami, which began last year. “Cleveland is my orchestral home and I look forward to at least another decade of working with this wonderful orchestra and serving this extraordinary community,” said Welser-Möst.

In September 2010 Welser-Möst also becomes general music director of the Vienna State Opera with an initial five-year term, following 12-years at the Zurich Opera from which he steps down at the end of this current season.