ArianeMatiakh
- Conductor


About Ariane
Principal Conductor, Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen
The 2024/25 season sees Ariane embark on her third season as Principal Conductor of the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen. She will open the season with Bartok Concerto for Orchestra and Dvořák Cello Concerto with Steven Isserlis and further symphonic highlights include works by Brahms, Berlioz, Strauss, Debussy and Ravel. The season also sees Ariane make her debut with Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and return to Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Previous guest conductor engagements have included regular appearances with leading ensembles such as the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Wiener Symphoniker, Orchestre de Paris, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Dresden Philharmonic, the WDR, Frankfurt and Finnish Radio Orchestra, the Sinfonieorchester Basel, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Orchestre Metropolitain.
On the opera stage, the 2024/25 season sees Ariane makes her debut at Deutsche Oper Berlin (Carmen), La Monnaie conducting a new opera by Mikael Karlsson Fanny and Alexander and return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Carmen). Opera engagements in recent years have included Stuttgart, Hamburg Staatsoper, Norwegian Opera and Ballet (Carmen), the Royal Opera House (La Bohème) Opéra du Rhin (Samson et Dalila), Komische Oper Berlin (Le Nozze di Figaro) Göteborg Opera (Madam Butterfly), Opéra de Nice (Zauberflöte), Oper Halle (Tosca) and Opéra du Rhin (Werther, Samson et Dalila, La voix humaine) among others.
Today, Ariane’s repertoire covers numerous operas to a wide spectrum of symphonic works and ballets, from the music of the Baroque period to contemporary compositions. Ariane’s discography includes a Grammy nomination for her Capriccio recording of both piano concertos by Zara Levina with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. For the Capriccio label, she has also recorded the works of Johanna Doderer as well as a CD with music by Francis Poulenc and Jean Françaix.
In recognition of her achievements in French musical life and representing French culture abroad, Ariane Matiakh was awarded “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts des Lettres” in 2022.
Contact
For availability and general enquiries:

Rachel Bertaut
Representation
Season Highlights
Video
- Playing
Ariane Matiakh conducts Arnold Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht op. 4
Credit: Record Music Group
Ariane Matiakh conducts Philippe Hersant: Les Éclairs
Credit: France Musique concerts
Ariane Matiakh conducts Beethoven Symphony No. 6
Credit: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Ariane Matiakh and Pekka Kuusisto perform Dessner: Violin Concerto
Credit: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Ariane Matiakh conducts Koechlin: Vers la voûte étoilée
Credit: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
News
Press
Akademiekonzert
Nationaltheater-Orchester MannheimJul 2023Die charismatische Dirigentin Ariane Matiakh inspirierte das Nationaltheater Orchester an diesem Abend zu Höchstleistungen; da schien einfach die Chemie zu stimmen, Musizierlust, unbändige Energie und kontrollierte Hingabe ließen den berühmten Funken überspringen. Mit brillanter und klarer Zeichengebung sorgte sie nicht nur für opulente Farbentfaltung und Präzision, sondern ließ die Instrumentation in immer wechselnden Schattierungen erscheinen und Klangbilder von suggestiver Kraft entstehen. [Translated] The charismatic conductor Ariane Matiakh inspired the Nationaltheater-Orchester to top performances on this evening; the chemistry just seemed to be right, musical enthusiasm, irrepressible energy and controlled devotion caused the famous spark to fly. With brilliant and clear signalling, she not only ensured opulent colour development and precision, but also let the instrumentation appear in ever-changing shades and created sound images of suggestive power.
- ioco
- 12 July 2023
Mahler Symphony No. 1
Württembergische Philharmonie ReutlingenJun 2023Matiakh steuert das Geschehen auch mit kühler Präzision durch heikle Gewässer... Auch für dieses Mysterium aus Trauer und Geheimnis hat sie ein äußerst sensibles Händchen. [Translated] Matiakh also steers the action through tricky waters with cool precision.... She also has an extremely sensitive hand for this mystery of grief and mystery.
- Reutlinger General-Anzeiger
- 14 June 2023
Poulenc & Thorvaldsdottir
Opéra national du RhinFeb 2023 - Mar 2023Ariane Matiakh dirige les onomatopées de Poulenc comme une longue phrase entrecoupées de silences. Elle donne toujours du mou aux lignes d’harmonie, fait sonner le cadre de scène enveloppe la violence des accents par un drapé velouté. [Translated] Ariane Matiakh conducts Poulenc's onomatopoeia as one long phrase interspersed with silences. She always gives slack to the harmony lines, making the stage frame sound envelop the violence of the accents with a velvety drape.
- Opera Online France
- 20 February 2023
La direction d'Ariane Matiakh magnifie cette partition de Thorvaldsdottir en donnant sa pleine cohérence à ces deux univers qui s'interpénètrent en créant un mouvement d'élévation et d'expansion. [Translated] Ariane Matiakh's direction magnifies Thorvaldsdottir's score, giving full coherence to these two universes that interpenetrate, creating a movement of elevation and expansion.
- Wanderer
- 22 February 2023
D’une clarté presque analytique, très « moderne », pas moins respectueuse de la partition, Ariane Matiakh privilégie plutôt les angles que les courbes, soulignant les couleurs sombres du naufrage d’une psyché. Sans les émousser, elle tient à une relative distance les moments lyriques, ce qui en augmente la cruauté. [Translated] With an almost analytical clarity, very "modern" but no less respectful of the score, Ariane Matiakh favours angles rather than curves, emphasising the dark colours of a sinking psyche. Without blunting them, she keeps the lyrical moments at a relative distance, which increases their cruelty.
- Diapason
- 24 February 2023
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
Württembergische Philharmonie ReutlingenSep 2022Ariane Matiakh hat zweifellos ein Händchen für die Raffinessen ihres Landsmanns Berlioz. Ein Einstand nach Maß. [Translated] Ariane Matiakh undoubtedly has a knack for the refinements of her compatriot Berlioz. A debut made to measure.
- Reutlinger General-Anzeiger
- 21 September 2022
BBC Proms
BBC National Orchestra of WalesJul 2022★★★★ All three works were performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted with meticulous élan by the French conductor Ariane Matiakh in her Proms debut. Throughout, Matiakh – the recently appointed chief conductor of the Würrtemberg Philharmonic in Reutlingen – deployed her conductor’s baton with the precision of a scalpel, filleting sound from the orchestra in a way that thrillingly revealed the anatomy of each composer’s intentions.
- The Arts Desk
- 22 July 2022
★★★★ French conductor Ariane Matiakh brought precision and colour to a programme of three illustrative works, including the premiere of Sally Beamish’s Hive, a harp concerto built around the life cycle of the honeybee.
- The Guardian
- 22 July 2022
Charles Koechlin: The Seven Stars' Symphony Op. 132
Sinfonieorchester BaselJun 2022Ariane Matiakh’s performance of the symphony is beautifully done and can be recommended alongside James Judd’s 1995 account for RCA.
- Gramophone
- 01 September 2022
★★★★★ The Basel Symphony Orchestra’s performance under Ariane Matiakh has a wonderful lithe elegance, which matches the beauty and refinement of Koechlin’s writing in every respect.
- The Guardian
- 26 May 2022
Les Éclairs
Opéra ComiqueNov 2021D’un bout à l’autre, cette musique palpite d’une énergie et d’une vitalité qu’Ariane Matiakh, à la tête de l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France, restitue avec infiniment de vigueur et de sensibilité. Au noir et blanc des décors, l’orchestre superpose une palette de couleurs qui créent une atmosphère et rendent encore plus tangible la présence de New York en tant que personnage à part entière.
- Bachtrack
- 04 November 2021
Ariane Matiakh, dont le visage laisse deviner combien elle goûte la partition, conduit Le Philharmonique de Radio France avec animation, éloquence.
- La Croix
- 04 November 2021
Discography
- Charles Koechlin The Seven Stars' Symphony, Op.132 (1933) · Vers la voûte étoilée, Op. 129
- Didier Squiban - Symphonie du ponant
- Concerto For 2 Pianos And Orchestra / Suite On Russian Themes
- Dohnányi: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
- Dohnányi: The Veil of Pierrette
- Strauss: Aus Italien, Op. 16 & Wolf-Ferrari: Suite Veneziana
- Harald Genzmer: Concertos
- Clara
- Zara Levina: The Piano Concertos
- Johanna Doderer: Symphony No. 2 "Bohinj" · Violin Concerto No. 2 "In Breath Of Time"
- Francaix & Poulenc: Concertos for 2 Pianos and Orchestra