Martin Rajna, a Hungarian aged just 29, will take over as conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg from September 2026. He has been music director of the Györ Philharmonic Orchestra since 2021 and principal conductor of the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest since 2023. Trained at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest and the Hochschule für Musik “Franz Liszt” in Weimer, he quickly established himself on the international music scene. Rajna has already conducted prestigious orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of Teatro La Fenice and the Orchestre du Luxembourg.
“The search was a long one, because we were looking for someone of the highest quality, one of the best, and I am confident that we have found him,” said Pierre Ahlborn, president of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, at a press conference. To this end, a search committee was set up and proposed candidates. In November 2024, Rajna had the opportunity to conduct the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and it was love at first sight.
“I really liked the orchestra’s open-mindedness and commitment to music, its desire to always do better. These work habits are very important and won me over straight away,” says Rajna. “When I was unexpectedly asked to become music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg from the 2026/27 season, I was delighted to accept.”
“For our part, we were immediately won over by Martin Rajna’s commitment to music. He is attentive to the musicians and conducts with great respect for the music. It’s not so often that we get to work with a conductor who is so committed to the music, and we very much appreciated this attitude and approach,” explains David Sattler, bassoonist in the orchestra and member of the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg’s artistic committee, who assures us that “the relationship between the orchestra and the young conductor has been obvious.”
For culture minister (DP), “this appointment is excellent news not only for the orchestra but also for the country’s entire musical scene.”
Before taking up his post, Rajna will already come in 2026 to give a few concerts, and will certainly also conduct the orchestra during the summer concerts at Kinnekswiss.
His favourite repertoire includes the works of Wagner and the German Romantics, as well as the great Viennese classics, including Beethoven. “I also love French music, Ravel in particular, and of course Hungarian composers,” says Rajna.
The conductor will stay for a minimum of eight weeks per season, plus extras and tours. The initial contract covers four seasons.
This article was originally published in .