Eva Ollikainen Replaces François-Xavier Roth for SWR Symphony Orchestra Concerts in July

Finnish conductor Eva Ollikainen will step in to conduct the SWR Symphony Orchestra in July 2024, replacing François-Xavier Roth. Roth canceled his planned concerts following allegations of sexual harassment.

Eva Ollikainen, seen here conducting the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in 2019, will lead the SWR Symphony Orchestra in performances of Gubaidulina's "Fairy Tale Poem," Richard Strauss' Violin Concerto in D minor, and Sibelius' Symphony No. 5. The orchestra secured Ollikainen on short notice after Roth withdrew from his engagements in late May due to the allegations.

According to a report by "Le Canard enchaîné" on May 22, 2024, Roth allegedly sent sexually explicit text messages and pictures to several individuals. The report included a letter to Stefan Englert, Managing Director of the Gürzenich Orchestra, detailing Roth's behavior. The French weekly newspaper stated that Roth harassed musicians with inappropriate messages and images. Roth admitted to sending "intimate messages" and apologized, saying, "If I have gone too far, I would like to apologize to those I may have offended." Following the publication, additional victims from Germany have also come forward.

SWR is taking the allegations against Roth very seriously and has pledged a thorough investigation. The broadcaster's top priority is to ensure a transparent and comprehensive review of the situation.

François-Xavier Roth is currently the General Music Director of the City of Cologne and Kapellmeister of the Gürzenich Orchestra. He served as conductor of the SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden and Freiburg from 2011 to 2016, which later merged with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra to form the SWR Symphony Orchestra. In September 2022, SWR announced that Roth would succeed Teodor Currentzis as Artistic Director of the SWR Symphony Orchestra for the 2025/26 season.