'Luisi is a superior Wagnerian to either Levine or Leinsdorf'

'Luisi is a superior Wagnerian to either Levine or Leinsdorf'

main

norman lebrecht

November 26, 2011

Joseph Horowitz has written a shrewd and reasoned assessment of the first Metropolitan Opera season without James Levine in the Times Literary Supplement (behind paywall). He argues that the Met used to be a conductor house, rather than a singer’s showcase, and under Luisi might become one again. Here’s his key paragraph – buy a copy to read the rest:

The Met is about glamour; Luisi is not glamorous. He defers to the orchestra when he takes his bows. He doesn’t smile at the audience. But he has won over the musicians. The best thing about the new Don Giovanni and Siegfried productions is Luisi’s way of conducting the latter, and the orchestra’s way of playing it. He is the first conuctor other than Levine to lead Siegfried at the Met since 1981. Before that, there was Erich Leinsdorf. To my ears, Luisi is a superior Wagnerian to either Levine or Leinsdorf.

Comments

  • The Unrepentant Pelleastrian says:

    Horowitz wrote:

    “To my ears, Luisi is a superior Wagnerian to either Levine or Leinsdorf”

    ***********

    With all due respect this is a crock of sh*t.

  • The Unrepentant Pelleastrian says:

    And any conductor who takes Wagner at brisk tempos (as Luisi does) is IMMEDIATELY ‘disqualified’ in my book…. End of discussion.

    (Get well soon, Maestro Levine)

  • harold says:

    Naaah,rubbish!!!!

  • MOST READ TODAY: