Bernard Haitink at 85 - and Beyond.

[bluestateprommer]

Hope Bernard Haitink has a quiet retirement.

The full interview with BH with Guido van Oorschot is now up at De Volksrant, where among other things, Haitink mentions his reading list of Roger Martin du Gard's Les Thibaults (which I have on my own bookshelf, unread, FWIW), a new bio of Beethoven, and Julian Barnes:

https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/de-grootse-maestro-bernard-haitink-90-stopt-ik-heb-geen-zin-in-officiele-afscheidsdingen-maar-het-is-een-feit-dat-ik-niet-meer-zal-dirigeren~b1f4a33d

Interesting tidbit that Haitink had hoped to conduct Bruckner 4 in his final concert with the RFO, as he had conducted Bruckner 4 with the RFO back in 1956. However, Gustavo Gimeno had already gotten Bruckner 4 on his own concert with the RFO this season, so Haitink switched to Bruckner 7 for his grand finale with the RFO tomorrow.

BTW, for anyone interested, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra posted this page, with access to audio of what proved to be Haitink's final concert with the CSO, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Bruckner 6:

https://csosoundsandstories.org/cso-radio-bernard-haitink-and-paul-lewis/

The one Radio 4 Netherlands link also has audio to his final concert with the Concertgebouw Orchestra earlier this year, of Mozart 40 and Brahms 4.

[Alison]

Good links BSP.

I could imagine Sir Bernard returning for one offs as it could satisfy a desire to keep his hand in without having to work to a schedule.

[Petrushka]

Thanks for your sterling work in providing the links, BSP. Impossible really to imagine Haitink's thoughts as he conducts his final concert in the Concertgebouw. I'll listen to the concert when it appears on the Netherlands Radio 4 website.

[richardfinegold]

Thanks for your sterling work in providing the links, BSP. Impossible really to imagine Haitink's thoughts as he conducts his final concert in the Concertgebouw. I'll listen to the concert when it appears on the Netherlands Radio 4 website.

I had just purchased my CSO season tickets for next year and was surprised to see him scheduled to conduct next year, as I thought that he had stepped down already. I wonder if he plans to fulfill that commitment.
I first saw him in Ann Arbor in the seventies on tour with the LPO—Mahler 5 and Elgar Introduction And Allegro. Then a 30 year hiatus until I saw him in Chicago many times, most memorably in Mahler 1. I have so many Haitink recordings, perhaps that could be a separate thread

[bluestateprommer]

I had just purchased my CSO season tickets for next year and was surprised to see him scheduled to conduct next year, as I thought that he had stepped down already. I wonder if he plans to fulfill that commitment.

Just curious: what date had BH listed as guest conductor? The current pdf of the 2019-2020 CSO subscription grid doesn't show him on the roster.

https://cso.org/globalassets/tickets-and-events-blocks/grid_19-20_.pdf

FWIW, "the other Bernard" (i.e. Labadie) is on the roster. I can make a wild guess as to which weekend that Haitink had been scheduled (i.e. the concert with Camila Tilling as guest), but it'll be interesting to hear back on this.

I first saw him in Ann Arbor in the seventies on tour with the LPO—Mahler 5 and Elgar Introduction And Allegro. Then a 30 year hiatus until I saw him in Chicago many times, most memorably in Mahler 1. I have so many Haitink recordings, perhaps that could be a separate thread

Thread revived under "Record Review", so your wish is granted :) .

BTW, to give credit where credit is due for the violin solo in Richard Strauss' "Morgen", I think that it was the co-concertmaster Joris van Rijn. One or two odd bits of German pronunciation from CT, IMHO, but generally lovely singing. Also, for anyone who wants to brush up their Dutch, the pdf of the concert program(me) is here:

https://www.nporadio4.nl/media/com_nporadio4/files/NTRZM2019-06-15-web.pdf

It also lists all of his Saturday Matinee performances from the Concertgebouw, with various orchestras, over the years, with lots of Mahler.

[richardfinegold]

Just curious: what date had BH listed as guest conductor? The current pdf of the 2019-2020 CSO subscription grid doesn't show him on the roster.

https://cso.org/globalassets/tickets-and-events-blocks/grid_19-20_.pdf

FWIW, "the other Bernard" (i.e. Labadie) is on the roster. I can make a wild guess as to which weekend that Haitink had been scheduled (i.e. the concert with Camila Tilling as guest), but it'll be interesting to hear back on this.



Thread revived under "Record Review", so your wish is granted :) .

BTW, to give credit where credit is due for the violin solo in Richard Strauss' "Morgen", I think that it was the co-concertmaster Joris van Rijn. One or two odd bits of German pronunciation from CT, IMHO, but generally lovely singing. Also, for anyone who wants to brush up their Dutch, the pdf of the concert program(me) is here:

https://www.nporadio4.nl/media/com_nporadio4/files/NTRZM2019-06-15-web.pdf

It also lists all of his Saturday Matinee performances from the Concertgebouw, with various orchestras, over the years, with lots of Mahler.

I’ll have to see if I saved the ticket brochure after I placed my order, but I think your speculation was correct

[bluestateprommer]

Some reviews of Haitink's RFO concert last Saturday (hopefully pasted correctely):

https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/haitink-neemt-afscheid-met-magische-middag~ba8dbbf6/

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/06/16/dirigent-bernard-haitink-neemt-afscheid-tot-de-laatste-maat-alert-soeverein-en-onvergetelijk-a3963863

It's interesting to read the start of the Parool review by Erik Voermans (with paraphrased Google Translation):

"Wie op 19 juli 1954 tegen de toen 25-jarige Herman Haitink had gezegd dat hij op 15 juni 2019 als negentigjarige na een roemrijke dirigentencarrière van 65 lentes, zomers, herfsten en winters onder stormachtig gejuich in een volgepakt Concertgebouw afscheid zou nemen van het Nederlandse publiek, zou een hoogst verbaasde blik als reactie hebben gekregen. Nog verbaasder zou hij hebben gekeken als hij had gehoord dat hij op zijn negentigste wereldfaam zou genieten als Bernard Haitink en dat helemaal niemand hem ooit nog Herman noemde. Tot slot zou hij van schrik en ongeloof op zijn benen hebben gewankeld als hij had vernomen dat hij in de geschiedenisboeken beschreven zal worden als een van de grootste dirigenten van zijn tijd.

Dat met die naam zit zo. In juli 1954 deed Bernard Johan Herman Haitink mee aan de Internationale Dirigentencursus van de Nederlandse Radio Unie. De toelichter, niet wetende dat Haitink thuis Herman werd genoemd, schreef zonder iemand iets te vragen Bernard Haitink in het programma. En Herman dacht: ‘Ach, die ene keer dat ik zal optreden, daar ga ik nu geen probleem over maken.’"

"On July 19, 1954, anyone who had told Herman Haitink at the age of 25 that, on June 15, 2019, after a glorious 65-year conductor career in springs, summers, falls and winters, he would say goodbye to the Dutch public in a packed Concertgebouw, would have received a highly surprised look in response. He would have looked even more astonished if he had heard that he would enjoy his world fame as Bernard Haitink and that nobody at all ever called him Herman. Finally, he would have wavered on his legs with fright and disbelief if he had been told that he would be described in the history books as one of the greatest conductors of his time.

With that name, that is like that. In July 1954 Bernard Johan Herman Haitink took part in the International Conductor Course of the Dutch Radio Union. The commentator, not knowing that Haitink was called Herman at home, wrote Bernard Haitink in the program without asking anyone. And Herman thought, 'Oh well, the one time I will perform, I am not going to worry about that now.'"

Somehow, the idea of "Herman Haitink" would have sounded odd, doesn't it?

Having heard this concert via Radio 4's internet feed, I wouldn't call this Bruckner 7 Haitink at his best, as there were a few brass flubs in the slow movement and more than one passage, particularly in the scherzo, felt a bit over-stretched out in tempo. But the 1st and 4th movements sounded in very fine form. Of course, on this occasion, it's not time for the critics (or me) to talk him down, but to say thanks and farewell. This link from Radio 4 Netherlands should take you to the archived audio:

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9150-bernard-haitink-dirigeert-bruckners-zevende-symfonie

[HighlandDougie]

Having heard this concert via Radio 4's internet feed, I wouldn't call this Bruckner 7 Haitink at his best, as there were a few brass flubs in the slow movement and more than one passage, particularly in the scherzo, felt a bit over-stretched out in tempo. But the 1st and 4th movements sounded in very fine form. Of course, on this occasion, it's not time for the critics (or me) to talk him down, but to say thanks and farewell. This link from Radio 4 Netherlands should take you to the archived audio:

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9...vende-symfonie

Fine orchestra that they are, the NRPO isn't quite as burnished sound-wise as the RCO but, the odd bum/split note aside from the brass, a very fine show by them. BH is, in my biased view, beyond criticism as his music-making has given me countless hours of pleasure over the last forty-five years or so, not least in Bruckner's 7th. I've just improved my set-up (new DAC; new amp; new speakers): the Dutch Radio 4 stream brought the sound of the hall into my room with great depth and clarity.

[Bryn]

Some reviews of Haitink's RFO concert last Saturday (hopefully pasted correctely):

https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/haitink-neemt-afscheid-met-magische-middag~ba8dbbf6/

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/06/16/dirigent-bernard-haitink-neemt-afscheid-tot-de-laatste-maat-alert-soeverein-en-onvergetelijk-a3963863

It's interesting to read the start of the Parool review by Erik Voermans (with paraphrased Google Translation):



Somehow, the idea of "Herman Haitink" would have sounded odd, doesn't it?

Having heard this concert via Radio 4's internet feed, I wouldn't call this Bruckner 7 Haitink at his best, as there were a few brass flubs in the slow movement and more than one passage, particularly in the scherzo, felt a bit over-stretched out in tempo. But the 1st and 4th movements sounded in very fine form. Of course, on this occasion, it's not time for the critics (or me) to talk him down, but to say thanks and farewell. This link from Radio 4 Netherlands should take you to the archived audio:

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/9...vende-symfonie

See also:

[bluestateprommer]

Maybe he could be persuaded to go on the record about his career in the way Karajan did with Osborne. Haitink rarely says much, which is a shame because when I hear him talk it's usually thoughtful and interesting.

Actually, he has, with Peter Hagmann and Erich Singer, in a new German-language book, Dirigieren ist ein Rätsel. There's a book launch talk at the Lucerne Festival next week, with all 3 of them present:

https://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/program/peter-hagmann-erich-singer/1363

Also, if anyone wants to plan ahead, it looks as though ORF will be airing one of the Haitink/Ax/VPO Salzburg Festival performances from earlier this week, on Sunday 15 September, 11 AM Austrian time:

https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20190915/572569

Should make for a nice "compare and contrast" exercise :) .

[zola]

Also, if anyone wants to plan ahead, it looks as though ORF will be airing one of the Haitink/Ax/VPO Salzburg Festival performances from earlier this week, on Sunday 15 September, 11 AM Austrian time:

https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20190915/572569

Should make for a nice "compare and contrast" exercise :) .

Already available.

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/bernard-haitink-conducts-bruckner/

[Petrushka]

Actually, he has, with Peter Hagmann and Erich Singer, in a new German-language book, Dirigieren ist ein Rätsel. There's a book launch talk at the Lucerne Festival next week, with all 3 of them present:

https://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/pr...ch-singer/1363

One would hope for an English translation but I won't be holding my breath. UK/US publishers don't seem to go for books like this anymore which is a great pity.

[bluestateprommer]

Review from Wiener Zeitung of yesterday's morning matinee of this VPO/Haitink/Ax concert, for those who want to brush up their German (or use Google Translator):

https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/kultur/klassik/2025182-Bernard-Haitink-Ein-Hochamt-ohne-Weihrauch.html

[BBMmk2]

Well after fifty years of giving us marvellous concerts at The Proms, next weeks will be his last one.

[bluestateprommer]

Well after fifty years of giving us marvellous concerts at The Proms, next weeks will be his last one.

It's going on now, via Netherlands Radio 4 (already posted in the one Proms concert thread, but worth repeating, IMHO):

https://www.nporadio4.nl/live

No idea if this will be archived for a short spell, or if this is a "one and done" deal. I only just figured this out 15 minutes ago.