Montrealer Yannick Nzet-Sguin tapped as Met Opera's new musical director

Yannick Nzet-Sguin will succeed James Levine as music director of the Metropolitan Opera,but will not take over until the 2020-21 season.

Nzet-Sguin will become music director designate in 2017-18 and start to collaborate on planning the company's schedule, often done five years in advance or more. He will conduct two operas per season as music director designate and five operas per season once he assumes the role.

"I can't recall a day in my life when I've been more joyful,"Nzet-Sguin said Thursdayduring a webstreamchat with stakeholder leaders ofthe Met.

To be "thenext caretaker of the music in this house is just a dream come true," said the young Montrealer, who was speaking from Japan, where he is currently on tour with thePhiladelphia Orchestra.

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• The amazing rise of Montreal conductor Yannick Nzet-Sguin

The 41-year-old Canadian, consideredthefavouriteto replaceLevine, has been music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra since the 2012-13 season and of Montreal'sOrchestreMetropolitainsince 2000.He has been chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic since 2008-09 and intends to give up that role at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Yannickwas the clear choice of the company...He is the right artist at the right time to lead us forward.- Peter Gelb, MetropolitanOpera

"Yannickwas the clear choice of the company,"Met general manager PeterGelbsaid in a statement.

"He is the right artist at the right time to lead us forward."

'Temple of song'

New York's Met is "the high holy temple of song, as I call it," acclaimedCanadiantenor and radio broadcaster Ben Heppner told CBC in Toronto Thursday morning.

Landing such an important and influentialpostarguablyone of thetop three classical music jobs in the world says something about the caliber of Canada's operatalent.

"We've already got a good reputation as singers. We've got a good bunch of singers in the world right now," saidHeppner, considered one of the world's foremosttenors before his retirement from the opera and concert stage in2014.

"Now, to have this very, very public, prominent position as conductor at the Met, I think it's just the best."

A regular since 2009 season

Nzet-Sguinmade his Met debut in the 2009-10 season conducting a new production ofBizet'sCarmen and returned every year since, including opening the 2015-2016 season with Otello.

He is slated toreturn to New Yorkin the fall to prepare forthe company's revival ofThe Flying Dutchman, his first time tackling aWagner operafor the Met.

"You have demonstrated to usyour warmth, spirit andboundless energy. You have such a wonderful way of drawing out the best [in everyone]," clarinetist Jessica Phillips, chair of the Met's Orchestra committee, told the conductor during thewebstreamThursday.

"Weareso delighted in your appointmenttomusicdirector. It truly is the product ofthefruitful relationship we have developed over theyears."

• CBC MUSIC |Yannick Nzet-Sguin is the new music director at the Metropolitan Opera

He willbecome just the third person with the music director title at the Met following RafaelKubelikin 1973-74 andLevine.

"Becoming the music director of the Metropolitan Opera is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me,"Nzet-Sguinsaid in a statement.

"I am trulyhonouredand humbled by the opportunity to succeed the legendary JamesLevineand to work with the extraordinary orchestra, chorus, and staff of what I believe is the greatest opera company in the world. I will make it my mission to passionately preserve the highest artistic standards while imagining a new, bright future for our art form."

Levine, who turns 73 on June 23, was music director or artistic director of the company from the 1976-77 season until the company announced in April he was stepping down because of Parkinson's disease. He is now music directoremeritus.