Lahav Shani

Lahav Shani begins the 2026/2027 season in his new position as the Chief Conductor of the Münchner Philharmoniker, having been appointed in February 2023.

This appointment follows his period as Chief Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra which ran from 2018-2026. Shani now holds the title of Honorary Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Shani became Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2020/2021 season taking over from Zubin Mehta.

Across the 2026/27 season Shani leads eight subscription programmes with the Münchner Philharmoniker, shaping the orchestra’s artistic direction while drawing on the central European symphonic repertoire closely associated with the ensemble. Works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler and Schubert form the backbone of the programmes, alongside contemporary repertoire and several large-scale projects. A new opera in concert strand opens with Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle , while Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms , performed in Hebrew, features in the opening concerts of the season. Music by Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim who was born in Munich also appears in the programming, including the orchestra’s first performance of his Concerto grosso. Touring continues to play a major role in the 2026/27 season, with 28 performances across Europe and the United States.

Recent and upcoming guest conductor highlights include engagements with Wiener Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhaus Orchester, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, London Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Born in Tel Aviv in 1989, Shani began his piano studies aged six with Hannah Shalgi, before continuing with Prof. Arie Vardi at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. He went on to study conducting under Prof. Christian Ehwald and piano with Prof. Fabio Bidini at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler, Berlin and was mentored by Daniel Barenboim during his time there.

As a pianist, Shani has performed as a soloist with Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta and Gianandrea Noseda. He has play-directed piano concerti with many orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Staatskapelle Berlin and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Shani also has considerable experience performing chamber music and in recital and is a regular performer at the Verbier Festival, and has also appeared at the Aix-en-Provence Easter and Jerusalem Chamber Music Festivals, and in duo recitals with Martha Argerich.