Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[Stanfordian]

Have the RCO announced a successor to Mariss Janssons when his contract ends this year?

I'm not sure they would choose Rattle though as IIRC the relationship between SR and the orchestra has not been of the warmest (though I can't recall where I have seen comments to this effect).

Hiya aeolium,

Yes it's Daniele Gatti who has been appointed the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s new chief conductor. Succeeding Mariss Jansons the Italian maestro who will assume the post in 2016 will be the seventh chief conductor in the orchestra’s history.

[Stanfordian]

I don't see why this is even an issue. No one suggested that Gergiev would move to London when he was appointed to the LSO, so I don't see why we should expect Rattle to move.

Hiya LHC,
Quite right. A private plane from Berlin to and from London City Airport would be easy enough.

[aeolium]

Hiya aeolium,

Yes it's Daniele Gatti who has been appointed the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s new chief conductor. Succeeding Mariss Jansons the Italian maestro who will assume the post in 2016 will be the seventh chief conductor in the orchestra’s history.

Thanks, Stanfordian.

[Conchis]

I don't see how it can be anyone else but Thielemann. There'll be pressure to a point a German after two foreigners, and politically, Thielemann is perfectly attuned toGermany today.

[Stanfordian]

I don't see how it can be anyone else but Thielemann. There'll be pressure to a point a German after two foreigners, and politically, Thielemann is perfectly attuned toGermany today.

Hiya Conchis,

I take your point. I greatly admire Thielemann as a conductor. I have attended a number of his performances of the last five years or so both in Dresden and in Berlin and have found him a wonderful conductor but he does tend to made waves wherever he goes.

[johnb]

Hiya LHC,
Quite right. A private plane from Berlin to and from London City Airport would be easy enough.

Very true but it would depend on how that worked out. I would have thought the last thing the LSO needs is another fly in/fly out celebrity conductor.

[Conchis]

As for the LSO...I'm surprised Pappano wasn't in the frame for this. He's staying at Covent Garden 'for the long-term future' but a few years ago, he seemed adamant that he didn't want a renewal of his contract and didn't want to run an opera house again. Strange that the LSO didn't sound him out at that point, as this would have been a logical next move for him.

Who else, then? Edward Gardner? Probably still too young and not enough of a 'name'. It might well be Harding, though that name doesn't excite me. I've a hunch they may want someone British, though I can think of only a limited number of 'suitable' names.

[aeolium]

Re the LSO would Yannick Nézet-Séguin be out of the question? I think his initial contract at the Philadelphia Orchestra ends this year. He has done quite a lot of work in London, though mainly with the LPO (and ROH, e.g. Rusalka). I'm sure the LSO would prefer Rattle, but if Rattle declined their offer then they could do worse imv.

[Tony Halstead]

I can think of only a limited number of 'suitable' names.

Here is an eminently 'suitable' one: Sir Mark Elder.

[Stanfordian]

Here is an eminently 'suitable' one: Sir Mark Elder.

Hiya Tony,

Sir Mark Elder would be perfect for the LSO job especially if it wants to stay still. I see Sir Mark as a safe pair of hands, a follower not an innovator. In addition Sir Mark is eight years older than Sir Simon.

[Tony Halstead]

Hmmm.... didn't know about the ages... thanks for the info, Stan!

On the other hand, why does the LSO necessarily have to have a 'bright young thing'?
As I recall, they gave the job to Pierre Monteux when he was at least 80!

[Barbirollians]

Rattle to the Halle then at least Manchester has a good concert hall !!!

[Alison]

I'd like Robin Ticciati at the LSO. His Schumann symphonies are way ahead of Rattle's.

[Flosshilde]

Not sure when his contract at the SCO is up. Not that he conducts them very much, and since he took over there has been a definite shift towards the second half of the 19th century repertoire (or at least away from baroque and classical periods).

[jayne lee wilson]

I don't care much where Rattle goes, or who goes after him -

I want the CBSO/Rattle Frankfurt 1995 Beethoven Cycle in the finest masterings available to Humanity and I want them now!