Orchestra names future director

The National Symphony Orchestra in Washington has chosen Christoph Eschenbach as its next music director after years of searching.

The 68-year-old German conductor will start in the 2010-11 season after Hungarian conductor Ivan Fischer completes his two-year stint as principal conductor. Eschenbach’s initial agreement covers four years. He will be the orchestra’s sixth music director.

Eschenbach will also hold the newly created position of music director of the Kennedy Center. In that role, he will work with the president of the Kennedy Center and programmers to launch various interdisciplinary, themed festivals and other projects in which classical music is a core component.