In a statement, the VSO said that Tovey had given up the position in part because of the strain of commuting 11 hours from Vancouver to Europe. The conductor added that he wanted to devote more of his energy to new initiatives at the VSO.

"Our future plans, including the projected new Symphony Centre on the site of the Capitol 6 Theatre, have encouraged me to spend the next five years working to develop the orchestra's role and responsibilities as the largest arts organization in Western Canada," he said.

The English-born Tovey, former music director of the Winnipeg Symphony, joined the VSO in 2000 and the LPO in 2002.