James Levine leaving Boston Symphony

[ejp626]

While hardly a surprise, this does leave quite a vacancy to fill. The Times has a story here: NYT link

The Chicago Symphony is cautiously optimistic that the doctors have finally found out what is wrong with Muti who actually collapsed during rehearsals a few weeks back. The typical nay-sayers are saying Chicago got him when he was old and broken-down, but I am hoping for the best for him. I was supposed to see him conduct, but then he had this accident and had to pull out of a number of concerts (he actually broke his jaw in the fall and it is wired shut at the moment!). I think he'll make it through next season at least, and I should have a chance to watch him conduct. Best wishes, Muti, as well as to Levine, who apparently is going to continue to conduct opera at the NY Met and possibly guest conduct in the future.

There really aren't that many youngish "name" conductors active in the US. The ones I can think of are mostly with European orchestras. I was going to say Michael Tilson Thomas, but he's 65. Simon Rattle is more like 55, but he is primarily associated with Berlin. Definitely some big shoes to fill in a number of orchestras.

[Ron S]

There really aren't that many youngish "name" conductors active in the US. The ones I can think of are mostly with European orchestras.

Except for this youngster, who will become Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012:

http://en.wikipedia....zet-S%C3%A9guin

[Peter Johnson]

And by the way--he's quite extraordinary.

There really aren't that many youngish "name" conductors active in the US. The ones I can think of are mostly with European orchestras.

Except for this youngster, who will become Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012:

http://en.wikipedia....zet-S%C3%A9guin

[ejp626]

There really aren't that many youngish "name" conductors active in the US. The ones I can think of are mostly with European orchestras.

Except for this youngster, who will become Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012:

http://en.wikipedia....zet-S%C3%A9guin

He sounds incredible, but hardly a "name" conductor. I've certainly never heard of him, and I read a fair bit about orchestras around the globe. He may well grow into that distinction. Of course, given the general lack of interest in classical music now, there may not be any more conductors known to the general public or even to the subset of music lovers.

[Ron S]

There really aren't that many youngish "name" conductors active in the US. The ones I can think of are mostly with European orchestras.

Except for this youngster, who will become Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012:

http://en.wikipedia....zet-S%C3%A9guin

He sounds incredible, but hardly a "name" conductor. I've certainly never heard of him, and I read a fair bit about orchestras around the globe. He may well grow into that distinction. Of course, given the general lack of interest in classical music now, there may not be any more conductors known to the general public or even to the subset of music lovers.

He's much better known internationally than in the US, although he's apparently well known among American classical music cognoscente and critics:

http://www.nytimes.c...usic/14phil.htm

http://articles.lati...seguin-20100801

He's apparently also a pretty big deal in the opera world.

I'd actually heard of him before he was considered/announced for the Philadelphia position, and I'm certainly no orchestra expert. He's generally considered to be one of the hottest rising stars of this younger generation of conductors. He's also quite a contrast to the last two Music Directors in Philly, Christoph Eschenbach and Wolfgang Sawallisch, in terms of age and place in his career, and in terms of personality! His appointment harkens back more to the earlier appointments of (at the time) younger men Riccardo Muti, Eugene Ormandy, and Leopold Stokowski as Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Current budget crises notwithstanding, the fervent hope is that he'll usher in a new era for the Orchestra comparable to those during the tenures of those 3 fellas.

Edited March 4, 2011 by Ron S

[AllenLowe]

aren't there any WOMEN conductors? I never even hear them considered.

[Ron S]

aren't there any WOMEN conductors? I never even hear them considered.

The most prominent in the US:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_Alsop

[Larry Kart]

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/features/a-glass-ceiling-for-women-in-the-orchestra-pit-1875075.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/10/entertainment/ca-women10

To the names mentioned in the first story, I would add JoAnn Falleta, Jane Glover, Sian Edwards and, back in the day, Nadia Boulanger. Also, the late famed director of the CSO chorus, Margaret Hillis, was a conductor par excellence, although one didn't know for sure how broad her repertoire was outside the choral realm (having met and talked some about music with her, I would guess that it was broad as can be).

My experience of female conductors, other than Hillis, is spotty. What I've heard of Glover (in Bach, Mozart, and Haydn) -- all in concert) was neat and springy but not terrific. Edwards did a nice job on record with works by Judith Weir. The most impressive, I thought, based only on one recording, though (orchestral works by Karol Rathaus), was Falletta. The Alsop I've heard (one of her Barber discs for Naxos) was OK.

Also, Susan Davenny-Wyner, formerly an expert singer of mainly modern music (she is married to the excellent composer Yehudi Wyner), became a talented conductor after injuries suffered in a bicycle accident forced her to stop singing:

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Davenny-Wyner-Susan.htm

I've only heard her conduct her husband's works, but she does that very well.

[Rooster_Ties]

aren't there any WOMEN conductors? I never even hear them considered.

The most prominent in the US:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_Alsop

I was JUST going to mention Alsop. I heard her three times (twice in St. Louis and once in KC) before her appointment in Baltimore, and was pretty blown away as best I can recall. I understand from several symphony players here in KC that she was very demanding/exacting, and really pushed them to get exactly what she wanted. At the time, our orchestra wasn't used to being pushed like that, and I believe she more than ruffled a few feathers (that probably more than needed ruffling).

I will DEFINITELY be trekking up to Baltimore to hear her at least a couple times a year, once I get settled in DC in a couple months. Hell, depending on what she programs, I may be up there as much as for stuff at the National Symphony in DC.

Also, Anne Manson was the music director of the Kansas City Symphony here for four seasons ('99-'03), and I thought she was damn good as well (I sang in the KC Symphony Chorus during her entire tenure here). She was very easy to follow, with some of the best stick technique I'd ever seen. She also ran the best rehearsals of any conductor I'd yet worked with (very efficient). I was sorry to see her go after only four years, but she has really focused her career since as an opera conductor (particularly in Europe, I believe).

Edited March 4, 2011 by Rooster_Ties

[Ron S]

aren't there any WOMEN conductors? I never even hear them considered.

The most prominent in the US:

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Marin_Alsop

I will DEFINITELY be trekking up to Baltimore to hear her at least a couple times a year, once I get settled in DC in a couple months.

As long as you're heading north up I-95 (or even the Baltimore-Washington Parkway), you should continue on up to Philly a couple of times to catch the Fabulous Philadelphians in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. You might even convince me--and Peter Johnson--to go along with you.

[Peter Johnson]

'twould be well worth the trip. Personally, I'd bypass balmer in the classical department and head straight here.

aren't there any WOMEN conductors? I never even hear them considered.

The most prominent in the US:

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Marin_Alsop

I will DEFINITELY be trekking up to Baltimore to hear her at least a couple times a year, once I get settled in DC in a couple months.

As long as you're heading north up I-95 (or even the Baltimore-Washington Parkway), you should continue on up to Philly a couple of times to catch the Fabulous Philadelphians in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. You might even convince me--and Peter Johnson--to go along with you.

[Mark Stryker]

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/features/a-glass-ceiling-for-women-in-the-orchestra-pit-1875075.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/10/entertainment/ca-women10

To the names mentioned in the first story, I would add JoAnn Falleta, Jane Glover, Sian Edwards and, back in the day, Nadia Boulanger. Also, the late famed director of the CSO chorus, Margaret Hillis, was a conductor par excellence, although one didn't know for sure how broad her repertoire was outside the choral realm (having met and talked some about music with her, I would guess that it was broad as can be).

My experience of female conductors, other than Hillis, is spotty. What I've heard of Glover (in Bach, Mozart, and Haydn) -- all in concert) was neat and springy but not terrific. Edwards did a nice job on record with works by Judith Weir. The most impressive, I thought, based only on one recording, though (orchestral works by Karol Rathaus), was Falletta. The Alsop I've heard (one of her Barber discs for Naxos) was OK.

Also, Susan Davenny-Wyner, formerly an expert singer of mainly modern music (she is married to the excellent composer Yehudi Wyner), became a talented conductor after injuries suffered in a bicycle accident forced her to stop singing:

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Davenny-Wyner-Susan.htm

I've only heard her conduct her husband's works, but she does that very well.

Susanna Mälkki (b. 1969) is one of the finest conductors of her generation, man or woman, that I've heard. Especially impressive in contemporary music and 20th Century fare. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_M%C3%A4lkki

I've also been impressed with Xian Zhang: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xian_Zhang

While I haven't heard her live, I have heard good things about Anu Tali: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anu_Tali

I've heard a bunch of good recordings led by Gisele Ben-Dor of Latin composers (Revueltas, Villa-Lobos, Ginastera) http://www.giseleben-dor.com/

Edited March 5, 2011 by Mark Stryker

[Hoppy T. Frog]

I will DEFINITELY be trekking up to Baltimore to hear her at least a couple times a year, once I get settled in DC in a couple months. Hell, depending on what she programs, I may be up there as much as for stuff at the National Symphony in DC.

No need to go all the way to Baltimore, the BSO plays regular subscription concerts at Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda, MD, just a short ride up Metro's Red line.

[Rooster_Ties]

I will DEFINITELY be trekking up to Baltimore to hear her at least a couple times a year, once I get settled in DC in a couple months. Hell, depending on what she programs, I may be up there as much as for stuff at the National Symphony in DC.

No need to go all the way to Baltimore, the BSO plays regular subscription concerts at Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda, MD, just a short ride up Metro's Red line.

Wow, great to hear that! I will definitely be taking advantage of that. We're giving up both our cars, and will be going totally with public transit in DC, with the occasional Zipcar rental.

[David Ayers]

We have only heard her once or twice in London (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4720229/Staccatos-on-stilettos.html) but Simone Young has conducted more widely, is based in Hamburg, and is known for a handful of recordings, notably Bruckner and Wagner.