Toufic Maatouk has earned global recognition for leading major ensembles such as the Romanian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea, Roma Sinfonietta, Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, Los Angeles Sinfonietta, Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, and Académie de l’Opéra de Paris. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2015 and has performed at renowned festivals and venues such as the Festival d’Île de France, Radio Romania Hall in Bucharest, and Manaus Opera in Brazil. In 2018, he was first invited to conduct at the Baalbeck International Festival—the oldest musical festival in the Middle East, set against the breathtaking backdrop of ancient Roman ruins.

In 2012, he took on the prestigious position of Artistic Director at the acclaimed Beirut Chants Festival. A year later, he became Guest Conductor with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2017, he started a yearly collaboration with the Romanian Radio Orchestra.

Maatouk has been praised for his insightful direction and consummate command of the orchestra. Opera Magazine gave him a rave review for conducting Verdi’s Requiem at the Baalbeck International Festival: “His musical sensitivity was immediately evident from the first sounds of the cellos and the care in the search for a specific and symbolic sound. Right from those first thrilling moments, one could find the nuances that brought a distinctive feature to his enlightened reading”.

The Abu Dhabi Festival, of which Maatouk is Programming Executive Manager and Deputy Executive Director, was voted by BBC Magazine as best classical programming in the Middle East. In his role as member of the Academic Board at the Global Leaders Institute in Washington, D.C., Maatouk has been recognised for his leadership in shaping significant musical projects across the Middle East.

The conductor is renowned for his meticulous voice work with singers, especially in the Italian and French repertoires. Noteworthy performances include working with great artists such as Maria Agresta, Joyce El Khoury, Jessica Pratt and Daniela Barcellona. He conducted at the prestigious Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago and the XXVI Mese Pucciniano on the Centennial of Puccini. He debuted this year at the Tirana Opera House Orchestra & Choir in Albania. Maatouk is a jury member for prestigious competitions including the Ottavio Ziino International Lyric Competition and Voce Verdiane International Competition.

For his valuable contribution to the arts, he was knighted with the “Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella d’Italia” by the President of the Italian Republic in 2020. In 2023, the French Ministry of Culture similarly bestowed upon him the title of “Chevalier des arts et des lettres.”

Maatouk studied conducting under Ennio Nicotra and Donato Renzetti. He holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome and has various publications with Éditions Geuthner in France. He has recorded 13 albums focusing on Maronite liturgical compositions, aiming to preserve this ancient musical tradition.

Upcoming performances include performances at the Abu Dhabi Festival, conducting Jessica Pratt and Javier Camarena’s concert, a new production of Carmen at the Baalbeck International Festival, and Donizetti’s Rita at the Bucharest Opera Festival.

* TYB Arts represents Toufic Maatouk worldwide, except in Latin America.