Musicians reach ‘boiling point’ with abusive conductor (update)
mainYou may recall the incident at the Tchaikovsky Comeptition when conductor Mark Gorenstein was accused of projecting racial abuse at the Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan and subsequently withdrew from the following rounds. Hakhnazaryan went on to win.
Well, Gorestein is now under attack from players in his own Svetlanov symphony orchestra, who have written to the Minister of Culture, saying the situation between musicians and conductor has reached ‘the highest boiling point’. They claim that 280 musicians have quit the orchestra in recent years after incidents with the conductor.
The Minister has told Ria-Novosti that he will deal with the situation once the conductor returns from illness.
LATEST: In an imterview with Moscow Radio today, Gorenstein came out fighting. He claimed someone had been planted in the orchestra to foment a plot against him…
This is way out of control. Let’s hope he will be warned so he won’t face charges!
One call from Gorestein to Putin and then musicians skulls will begin to crack. That and brown paper bags full of cash begin to circulate. This story will slip far under the radar for good.
Musical Moscow awaits eagerly for this shameful chapter to be over and for the orchestra to get a new professional and descent Maestro.