A Greek at the Berlin Philharmonic?
mainDer Tagespiegel, one of the leading German dailies, has listed the Russian-based Greek conductor Teodor Currentzis as a candidate for the Berlin Phil. Tagespiegel rate him so highly that his profile is published just behind those of frontrunners Christian Thielemann and Andris Nelsons.
If we ran a Berlin betting shop, we’d give odds of 200-1. But miracles do happen and it’s worth keeping a wary eye on Currentzis as a wild-card outsider.
Currentzis is a naturalized Russian since April 2014.
Well, 11 years ago he said ‘give me 5 or 10 years to save classical music :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/3647876/I-will-save-classical-music.html
I’d give odds of 2,000,000 to 1
BTW the BPL 2015-6 season brochure is now available – maybe this could give some small clues of who is in favour ?
Get serious! He’s never even conducted the orchestra… At this rate, it may as well be Princess Charlotte!
Wow!
I couldn’t agree more Harold. In fact, I think you are being too kind!
Who is Harold?
Well, wasn’t there a significant chief conductor of the Berlin Phil whose great-great-grandfather was Georgios Karajánnis from northern Greece? It seems that a precedent may have already been set 🙂
I would not bet on Currentzis but he is FANTASTIC, and he would do well. He has placed Perm on the musical map. My money remains split: Thielemann or Jurowski.
I still want to give few new names:
– Esa-Pekka Salonen
– Paavo Järvi
– Gianandrea Noseda
– Ilan Volkov
– Susanna Mälkki
Do you think these have any possibilities?
I only hope that Christian Thielemann doesn´t became nex chief. Berlin Philharmonic should also play something else than only Bruckner, Brahms ja Beethoven 🙂
This must be an example of that world famous German sense of humour
This guy said of Renée Fleming, “When I hear her, I always imagine I am being propositioned in a Jacuzzi.” I’m not even sure what that is supposed to mean, but it certainly makes me question his personality, as well as his musical judgement.
What about Eric Morecombe.
“Tagesspiegel” did it again:
Today they present Pablo-Heras-Casado as an candidat.
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/die-kandidaten-der-berliner-philharmoniker5-jung-kommunikativ-fotogen/11747506.html
He once conducted the orchestra in winter 2011.
https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/de/concert/2461
Obviously I don´t want to be disrespectful to the work of maestro Heras-Casado (“Musical America´s” Conductor of the Year in 2013), but
I guess, the guys at “tagesspiegel” have a lot of fun coming up with these candidates.
For german speaking readers, there is a podcast available of yesterdays discussion in SWR-2-Radio about the election which isn´t that spectacular, bur may help passing the time.
http://swrmediathek.de/player.htm?show=fa55c160-f4cb-11e4-a6ed-0026b975f2e6