70 years of the Philharmonia

[Barbirollians]

Lovely video channel here - including interviews with players of the past .

https://vimeo.com/channels/philharmonia70/143625210

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks for this, Barbi. Some very interesting contributions here in which I found Kenneth Essex's to be particularly pertinent. His comments about Karajan are priceless.

I hope the Philharmonia are going to post more reminiscences of their personnel.

[Barbirollians]

Many thanks for this, Barbi. Some very interesting contributions here in which I found Kenneth Essex's to be particularly pertinent. His comments about Karajan are priceless.

I hope the Philharmonia are going to post more reminiscences of their personnel.

Interesting that both he and the violinist raved about Cantelli .

[BBMmk2]

Their current season, I thought looked rather conservative?

[bluestateprommer]

Just saw the news that Esa-Pekka Salonen is standing down as the Philharmonia's principal conductor, as of 2021:

https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/news/article/54/ESA-PEKKA%20SALONEN%20AND%20THE%20PHILHARMONIA%20ORCHESTRA%20ANNOUNCE%202020/21_as_salonens_final_season_as_principal_conductor_

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/04/esa-pekka-salonen-conductor-to-leave-philharmonia-orchestra

Since the two current principal guest conductors of the Philharmonia are Jakub Hrůša and Santtu-Matias Rouvali, presumably they're each among the top of the orchestra's search list.

[Alison]

I’d love to see Pablo Heras-Casado at the helm of the Philharmonia.

Only an occasional guest but great rapport with players and audience.

Wide repertoire too.

I probably need a BSP analysis of his current outlook

[DracoM]

Why is Salonen stepping down?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Why is Salonen stepping down?

I can only speculate (posh for "make a wild random guess") that at 60 (63 by the time his contract ends), with other conducting commitments, and a wish to do more composing, he simply wants a bit less stress. He's going to carry on conducting the orchestra after his tenure as Artistic Director, so I don't think it's disaffection (on either side).

[gradus]

Great site with fascinating interviews. Many thanks Barbs.

[DracoM]

I can only speculate (posh for "make a wild random guess") that at 60 (63 by the time his contract ends), with other conducting commitments, and a wish to do more composing, he simply wants a bit less stress. He's going to carry on conducting the orchestra after his tenure as Artistic Director, so I don't think it's disaffection (on either side).

Many thx

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Technically, it's only 53 years, between 1964 and 1977, the orchestra had another name, in defiance of the manipulative and mean Walter Legg.

[Barbirollians]

Technically, it's only 53 years, between 1964 and 1977, the orchestra had another name, in defiance of the manipulative and mean Walter Legg.

I think there is something up with your maths . 72-13 does not = 53.

[bluestateprommer]

I can only speculate (posh for "make a wild random guess") that at 60 (63 by the time his contract ends), with other conducting commitments, and a wish to do more composing, he simply wants a bit less stress. He's going to carry on conducting the orchestra after his tenure as Artistic Director, so I don't think it's disaffection (on either side).

13 years as principal conductor / chief conductor / music director (choose as appropriate) these days is a pretty long stretch for an orchestra-conductor relationship, so in that sense, it makes sense for E-PS to call time on this particular chapter of his career. Plus, this bombshell news from San Francisco may also explain another part of it:

https://www.sfsymphony.org/About-Us/Press-Room/Press-Releases/EPS-Music-Director-(1).aspx

There had been some speculation that Pablo Heras-Casado was in the running for San Francisco. But with E-PS moving back to California, musically speaking, that does open up the Philharmonia for PH-C, if PH-C is interested. I've actually never seen PH-C conduct live, so I can't testify to his qualities / debits as a conductor. Sorry to disappoint Alison on this question ;) .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Plus, this bombshell news from San Francisco may also explain another part of it:
https://www.sfsymphony.org/About-Us/...ector-(1).aspx

Yup - I think that news rather blows my "perhaps he just wants a quieter life" suggestion right out of the water!

[Bryn]

Yup - I think that news rather blows my "perhaps he just wants a quieter life" suggestion right out of the water!

I hope he wears a flower in his hair.