Donald Palumbo doesn’t do quiet exits. After nearly two decades shaping one of the most formidable opera choruses in the world at the Metropolitan Opera, the 76-year-old maestro is stepping into a new spotlight. Palumbo is swinging his baton at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as they name him their new chorus director. He begins his three-year term in July, becoming only the third person to hold the role in the choir’s 67-year history.
“I knew it was not a retirement situation for me,” Palumbo shared in a phone call from Chicago, where he’s already deep into rehearsals. “I love this chorus. I love this city.”
Palumbo’s return to the Windy City feels like a true high note. Before his celebrated run at the Met (2007–2024), he held the reins as chorus master at the Lyric Opera of Chicago for 16 years. His reputation? Meticulous.
Donald Palumbo and His Renowned Position
Donald Palumbo is known to be passionate. Demanding in the best way. At the Met, he was a regular behind-the-scenes figure caught up backstage during performances. Thus, he aimed to push singers toward perfection, detail by detail.
Now, at the CSO, he’s looking to build more than just clean ensemble singing. “Creating an identity as a chorus from the way we sing and the way we devote ourselves to the music” is how he describes the mission.
Jeff Alexander, president of the CSO, said Palumbo’s rapport with the chorus was already apparent from previous collaborations.
“Donald brings not just experience but a collaborative spirit that elevates the entire ensemble,” Alexander noted in a statement. “We knew he was the ideal choice to carry forward the legacy of this award-winning group.”
Though Donald Palumbo currently lives in Santa Fe, he’ll commute regularly to Chicago. Hence, he will begin this month with Verdi’s Requiem under Riccardo Muti, the CSO’s former music director and one of Palumbo’s longtime collaborators. His official debut as chorus director will occur at the Ravinia Festival in July, with Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony conducted by Marin Alsop.
As for the orchestra’s future, Palumbo is keeping a close eye on Klaus Mäkelä. He is a 28-year-old Finnish conductor who’s set to take over as the CSO’s music director in 2027.
“Everything he does musically is exciting,” Palumbo said. “I’ve been watching him on YouTube—he’s remarkable.”
While his current appointment runs through 2028, Palumbo is already hinting at a longer stay. “I certainly am not planning on having a cutoff point,” he said. “I intend to keep working.”
For a man whose career has been defined by passion, precision, and longevity, this next act at the CSO feels less like a closing chapter and more like a bold new movement.