Christian Thielemann - Hero or Villain?

[bluestateprommer]

Well, the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden will have plenty of opportunities to address the thread question for themselves, since Thielemann will become their GMD next year:

https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/christian-thielemann-wird-neuer-generalmusikdirektor-der-berliner-staatskapelle-100.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/arts/music/berlin-state-opera-christian-thielemann.html

So CT didn't get the Berlin Philharmonic in the end, but he may have gotten the next best thing.

[smittims]

A curiosity on the front cover of DG's box set of Thielmann's recordings. He looks as if he's picking his nose. Yes, I know he isn't , but they might have chosen a more effective illustration.

[oddoneout]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/27/christian-thielemann-picks-up-baton-as-director-of-berlin-state-opera-from-old-rival

[bluestateprommer]

The BR-Klassik page has this commentary that collates reaction to the Thielemann appointment to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, which is mostly negative (the "villain" side), by their lights:

https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/reaktionen-auf-die-ernennung-von-christian-thielemann-als-gmd-der-berliner-staatskapelle-100.html

The one commentator from VAN Magazine, Albrecht Selge, kind of goes broad-brush provocateur to say:

"Berlin hat ein Faible für tote Pferde." ("Berlin has a weakness for dead horses.")

I wonder how Vladimir Jurowski, Joana Mallwitz, and Kirill Petrenko would react to that comparison with deceased equines, as three semi-recent appointments to posts in Berlin. However, I'll grant Selge's point of how smartly the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra deals with Thielemann simply by inviting him twice or so a season as a guest conductor. (The same thing actually happens with Daniel Harding and a lot of continental European orchestras, but never mind.)

And given human nature, the same professional relationship pattern may well repeat itself with Thielemann and his newest ensemble down the line. Perhaps if Joana Mallwitz plays her cards right and bides her time, and does a great job with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, she could take Thielemann's post down the line ;) .

[Alison]

Not long until NYD Vienna