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Interlochen conductor leads rain-drenched Olympics opening ceremony orchestra

Cristian Macelaru conducts the Orchestre National de France during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. (Photo Christophe Abramowitz)
Cristian Macelaru conducts the Orchestre National de France during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. (Photo: Christophe Abramowitz)

Interlochen alum and WYSO artistic director Cristian Macelaru was at the helm of the Orchestre National de France during the 2024 Olympic opening ceremonies.

Conductor Cristian Macelaru has a long list of accomplishments. Last Friday, he added "conducting during the Olympics in a downpour" to that list.

Macelaru is a Grammy winner, and he's also the artistic director and principal conductor of the World Youth Symphony at Interlochen. Earlier this year, he was named music director designate of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

But last Friday, the world saw Macelaru in his role as principal conductor of the Orchestra National de France during the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Musicians from the French National Orchestra shelter from the rain during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Mike Egerton/PA)
Musicians from the French National Orchestra shelter from the rain during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Mike Egerton/PA)

Macelaru and the orchestral musicians performed in a downpour. Many sported plastic ponchos, but their instruments were exposed to the rain.

Although orchestral musicians from past rainy Olympics performances have admitted to using pre-recorded music and less expensive substitute instruments, there is not yet any official statement from the orchestra or musicians about what instruments they used.

Macelaru most recently appeared at Interlochen earlier this month, when he conducted the World Youth Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with guest violinist Ray Chen.

Dr. Amanda Sewell is IPR's music director.