Mariss Jansons resigns from Concertgebouw

[Petrushka]

Thanks for the link to the Concertgebouw page (agree about NL, by the way), BSP.

Coincidentally, the first name that came into my head last night was that of Ivan Fischer. He has worked with the RCO and, indeed, recently done a Beethoven cycle with them which rather struck me as being from 'a conductor in chief in waiting'.

Jansons' well-documented health problems must have been a source of constant exasperation within the orchestra as well as with audiences (and not much fun for Mariss either). I certainly know that I myself avoided booking for RCO concerts following a series of cancellations in earlier years, in particular the recent Bruckner concerts. It was all too reminiscent of Tennstedt and the LPO in the early 1990s when you never knew whether he was going to show up or not.

All of a sudden, the conductor's game of musical chairs has had all the pieces thrown up in the air. Nelsons must regret taking the Boston job as I believe he might well have got Berlin or Amsterdam. Has Jurowski conducted the RCO? Fischer is 63 which is borderline what the orchestra needs right now ie a relatively youngish conductor who has worked with them to acclaim, gets on with the players and would be a hit with audiences. Markus Stenz might be a wild card candidate.

[Alison]

Yes, Jurowski has conducted the Concertgebouw. There's a very good Winter Daydeams recording on YouTube.

Does his LPO contract end next year? I rather hope he stays in London for now; there's lots of stuff he hasn't tackled with the orchestra yet!

As for Jansons there was a feeling that the Concertgebouw was his second orchestra with many of his better recordings and concerts coming from the BRSO.

[MickyD]

I wonder if Charles Hazlewood is available?

[alywin]

When Jansons was appointed to the Pittsburgh SO in the late 1990s, he had just had a massive heart attack and had just undergone the implantation of an automatic defibrillator. I am amazed that he has been been able to keep the pace of a superstar jet setting conductor for these last 15 years.

If I've got my dates right, I make it 18 years now, nearly. I'm sorry to hear the news, but hardly surprised: more surprised that he's managed to carry on running two orchestras all this time - and the RCO's anniversary tour schedule has to my mind been horrendous, even if he was only appearing in part of it. I'm now doubly glad I made all their last 3 London concerts together, especially since they're not down for the Proms this year, or scheduled for next year.

Oh, and Google Translate is actually nearly enough right - for once in its "life".

[Stanfordian]

Oh no! MickyD,

Charles Hazlewood surely not. The clever money is on Sue Perkins.

[amateur51]

It suddenly occurred to me the other day that Esa-Pekka Salonen is a conductor of the first rank who has not been mentioned. He's been with the Philharmonia for quite a while and has given audiences some wonderful concerts. He would certainly ginger up the Concertgebouw's programming I imagine and as a compopser he'd welcome the chance to have a diffwerent sort of Rolls-Royce orchestra playing his work

Just a thought

[bluestateprommer]

If anyone wants to dig through Radio Netherlands' Radio 4 page for Mariss Jansons' final concert as chief conductor of the KCO, or at least the last radio broadcast with him as chief conductor, you can try this link and scroll down to the entry titled:

"20 Mrt 2015 om 20:00
Avondconcert
Presentatie: Maartje Stokkers"

The 1st 2 minutes of the archived audio have nothing to do with the concert (not sure if it's news or something else). Interestingly, at the start of the concert broadcast, you get a mini-interview with Jansons in English. There's a minor gaffe where the presenter says that Jansons was chief conductor for 10 years, but of course his tenure was 11 years, not 10.

[Petrushka]

A slightly more direct route to the concert is here: http://www.radio4.nl/luister-concert...mariss-jansons

A rather low key sort of programme for a 'farewell' appearance one might think but I'm sure that Jansons will be back as a guest conductor in due course.

[Alison]

The conductor sounded very tired and disinterested in the interview.

Thanks for posting bsp.

I didn't catch the identity of the striking second piece on the programme.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I didn't catch the identity of the striking second piece on the programme.

Ick seg Adieu by Martijn Padding, Alison. (The link in Pet's #23 gives programme details )

[Roehre]

Ick seg Adieu by Martijn Padding, Alison. (The link in Pet's #23 gives programme details )

I say good bye that is

[Alison]

Thanks lads, will do a bit of research on Mr Padding!

[mathias broucek]

Thanks lads, will do a bit of research on Mr Padding!

Interesting that both his bands (RCO and BRSO) had difficulties with the unexpected death of a principal conductor in the past (van Beinum/Kondrashin)

[Conchis]

If Thielemann doesn't get Berlin, this might be a good consolation prize for him. I'm guessing the players will want someone who is conservative (if not Conservative).

[mathias broucek]

If Thielemann doesn't get Berlin, this might be a good consolation prize for him. I'm guessing the players will want someone who is conservative (if not Conservative).

Historically, the Dutch haven't liked "Conservative" Germans......

They loved Jochum and liked Kleiber (E) but they both "had a good war"