Stéphane Denève has been announced as Sir Roger Norrington’s successor at the helm of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (SWR), a role he takes up at the start of the 2011-12 season. Simultaneously, it has been announced that Denève will extend his contract with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra by another year, taking it to the end of the 2011-12 season. Denève joined the RSNO in 2005 and during his five years with the ensemble has overseen a number of critically acclaimed initiatives including a cycle of Albert Roussel’s orchestral works for Naxos and a disc of orchestral music by Guillaume Connesson for Chandos. Denève joins a distinguished roster of chief conductors in Stuttgart – Sergiu Celibidache led the ensemble from 1971 to 1977, Sir Neville Marriner from 1983 to 1989 and Sir Roger Norrington since 1998. Commenting on these two contract signings, Denève commented: “To become the chief conductor of such a prestigious German orchestra is an exciting new adventure. This is a major step in my musical life and a fantastic opportunity to explore new styles and different repertoire. But I’m also joyful to have a seventh and final year with my beloved RSNO. Over the past five years there have been so many memorable moments and I hope to share many more during the next two seasons. I have become very attached to Scotland and its people and the remaining years will only increase this feeling!”