MONTREAL — The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has renewed the contract of music director Kent Nagano.

The deal will keep Nagano aboard until the 2013-2014 season, although it may be renewed for another two years.

Nagano will continue to lead concerts, record with the orchestra, tour internationally and participate in special events.

Chairman Lucien Bouchard says Nagano's innovative programming has won critical acclaim and increased international attention to the orchestra's work.

He says Nagano has also shown "constant initiative in reaching out to the community."

Nagano says it was "with great pleasure and emotion" that he extended his contract with the orchestra and applauded the "exceptional qualities of Quebec culture."

"Over the last years, I have witnessed the importance of arts and culture in Quebec, discovered the exceptional sophistication and open mind of our public, felt the communal strength and shared a unique civic spirit," Nagano said in a statement.