Don't know if there was another thread already on this story; if it has, I can delete this thread. But if not, the news broke over last weekend that one day before his 86th birthday, Nikolaus Harnoncourt announced his retirement from conducting. The English version of his own page has a photo of the handwritten note that the weekend's Concentus Musicus Wien program had, and an English translation:
Very slightly tweaked translation:
There were plans for the CMW to do a Beethoven cycle at the Styriate in Graz next year, but Harnoncourt's retirement obviously throws everything regarding the CMW into turmoil, at least in principle. However, a report on NH's retirement by Daniel Ender in Der Standard indicates that there might be someone who can help guide the CMW in the near term, the harpischordist Stefan Gottfried:
I only got to see NH live once, in Vienna where he led the CMW, in 1999 at the Musikverein. NH is someone who can certainly divide audiences, but at least he makes you think. Maybe in his retirement, he might write a book on music, or his memoirs. Best wishes to him, and his wife Alice.
Very slightly tweaked translation:
"Dear Public,
My physical strength requires me to cancel my future plans. As great ideas have arisen: an unbelievably deep relationship has developed between us on the podium and you in the hall - we have become a happy community of pioneers! – Much will remain. This year’s cycle will be carried on in my spirit. Remain faithful to it!
Yours Nikolaus Harnoncourt"
My physical strength requires me to cancel my future plans. As great ideas have arisen: an unbelievably deep relationship has developed between us on the podium and you in the hall - we have become a happy community of pioneers! – Much will remain. This year’s cycle will be carried on in my spirit. Remain faithful to it!
Yours Nikolaus Harnoncourt"
I only got to see NH live once, in Vienna where he led the CMW, in 1999 at the Musikverein. NH is someone who can certainly divide audiences, but at least he makes you think. Maybe in his retirement, he might write a book on music, or his memoirs. Best wishes to him, and his wife Alice.
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