Best young conductors

[verismissimo]

In 1966 I asked a young cellist in the BBCSO who he thought were the best young conductors around. Without a flicker, he nominated Haitink and Boulez.

I wonder who would be the nominations today?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In 1966, Haitink was 37 and Boulez 41 - interesting that in "Classical" Music these are still considered "young"! Of comparable ages nowadays, Petrenko*, Jurowski, Volkov most readily come to my mind, with Edward Gardner after a "flicker". And, I suppose, Dudamel.

(* - I meant Vassily (at 39), but Kiril is still in his early 40s)

[bluestateprommer]

Perhaps also Jakub Hrůša (34), Kirill Karabits (38), and Andris Nelsons (36). Of course, the subtext of fhb's comment is the age cut off for "young", and whatever the consensus for that number might be. Kirill P. and Vladimir Jurowski are about the same age now, 43 or nearly so, and Gardner is 41 this November. Other possible names for this list might be Stéphane Denève and François-Xavier Roth, both 44 in a few months, but maybe 44 pushes the upper age limit for discussion here.

[verismissimo]

To those nominated, I'd add Nezet-Seguin (40) and Ticciati (a mere 32).

[Zucchini]

One of the most exciting and prodigiously gifted young conductors is the Israeli Lahav Shani (26 I think). I would be surprised if he isn't on the shortlist for the vacant MD post at the CBSO. But I don't know how wide his repertoire is.

[Hornspieler]

In 1966 I asked a young cellist in the BBCSO who he thought were the best young conductors around. Without a flicker, he nominated Haitink and Boulez.

I wonder who would be the nominations today?

I always try to avoid the word "best".

That is a matter of someone's personal opinion and experience.

But I think that drawing our attention to young (or emerging) conductors who are showing great promise, would be of useful help to us all.

HS

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I always try to avoid the word "best".

Yes - "Most promising" might be fairer. And lots of names mentioned already that have made me think "Of course! Why didn't I think of him?!" (Including Nelsons, who I thought was in his late forties!) Quite a glorious sample of talent around - I'd never heard of Zucchini's candidate - someone to look out for.


Erm - all chaps so far ...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Edward Gardner 41.

[french frank]

Erm - all chaps so far ...

Susanna Mälkki is 46 so that probably puts her in the distinguished elder category.

[Bryn]

If 39 is considered young, then Ilan Volkov, without a doubt.

[french frank]

Erm - all chaps so far ...

Not a household name, especially since her return to Poland, but Ewa Strusińska (39)?

[AjAjAjH]

Jamie Phillips. Andrew Gourlay and Ryan Wigglesworth.

Jamie Phillips is the most prodigious young conducting talent I have seen for a number of years.

[verismissimo]

That's more like it, Aj!

Jamie Phillips is with the Halle and the Los Angeles Phil - and he's twenty three. He's emerging at the sort of age that Rattle burst forth.

I had no idea when I started this thread that best/most promising/fab (choose adjective to taste) young conductors are generally in their thirties or early forties, just as they were half a century ago.

[Demetrius]

Well, conductors are supposed to have quite extensive musical knowledge and a certain depth (even if they are extremely talented), and acquiring that usually takes some time, I suppose. Moreover, their career baring early death is often quite a bit longer than in more usual lines of work - Nelsons or Ticciati may easily have another 50 years, just like Haitink had. Even Haitink might enjoy (and hopefully will) many more years of conducting. Thus, mid-thirties is still a very early time in their careers.

[verismissimo]

Another to emerge explosively before his thirties was Karajan. After 5 years at the opera house in Ulm, he became Generalmusikdirektor at Aachen at 26/27, making his debut with the BPO and the Staatsoper at 30. Perceived at that time as an unwelcome threat by Furtwangler.