Conductor cancels season to have baby
mainWe’re delighted to report that the Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra is cancelling her winter 2015/16 global engagements in order to have her first baby.
Perfectly natural and unworthy of further comment except to wish Alondra all the best.
Well, just one comment: Ever since Andris Nelsons broke the mould and took paternity leave around the birth of his first child in 2011, we have not heard a further instance of a male conductor who asserted his family rights at childbirth.
They should. Let’s encourage them to do so.
Congratulations to Ms de la Parra on the wonderful news of her upcoming parenthood. On the other hand, however, congratulations to the orchestras who just got themselves released from their commitments with such a superficial and mediocre made up conductor like her, forced in by tons of money that her family spills on her agent’s hands.
In Mexico she really tried to build her career up by marrying the son of Mexico’s ex-president Ernesto Zedillo, using his strong political connections. Thus she was never welcome by the vast majority of Mexico’s orchestral musicians, not to mention the abrupt way she left her “music directorship” at the Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco (Guadalajara, Mexico), again a position that her powerful family lobbied for. She left in the middle of a scandal without even saying goodbye to the musicians that had to put up with her weak musical leadership overcompensated by a temperamental personality.
Alondra, you cannot full everybody all the time!
http://www.informador.com.mx/cultura/2013/435657/6/musicos-exponen-su-inconformidad-tras-el-paso-de-directora.htm
Gonzalez, thank you so much for pointing out the emperor’s new clothes. I agree with everything that you have written, and it has never ceased to amaze me, how long this farce has continued. This is a great opportunity to give other more talented and deserving conductors a chance.
Thanks, May. For those who wonder about what is the damage that marketing has done to arts this is a perfect example. All those made-up “artists” have one thread in common, they love attention focused on their images as a compensation for their lack of substance. And, unfortunately, institutions of all levels contribute to promoting these hacks. Anybody who has met and/or worked with a true artist can perfectly point this epidemic out. But money and image that the artist agencies handle are a powerful force aimed to control those with the poorest judgements, very often found on the boards of cultural institutions, orchestras, etc.
And yes, I agree that the world has to reach a turning point in which we become more demanding of quality and do not get content with just about anything that is thrown into our faces wrapped up in glossy paper!
Not sure what the rant is about.
Did someone say that she is a gifted musician? It’s not like she’s next in line for Berlin or NY.
The farces at the top of the music world are more worth discussing. But no professional musician can do that with their real name…. There are plenty of them and they are most often conductors or composers.
With due respect towards the members of the Jalisco Philharmonic (Mexico) who reportedly went through a critical situation with their music director Alondra de la Parra, I feel obliged to report that our recent experience in Florida, where Maestra de la Parra conducted the Miami Symphony Orchestra, was one of the highlights of our season.
Both audience and members of the orchestra were delighted with her exceptional talent and striking podium leadership.
Click on the link below and enjoy her performance of Bernstein – On The Waterfront:
https://soundcloud.com/miami-symphony-orchestra/bernstein-on-the-waterfront
Eduardo Marturet
Music Director & Conductor
The Miami Symphony Orchestra
http://www.themiso.org/
As most conductors work in a freelance capacity, it would seem to be more a matter of choice rather than ‘right’ whether they take paternity leave or not.
Exactly. I doubt most would know she was gone for such a personal issue as this.
My thoughts exactly. I doubt most would’ve noticed an absence for such a personal issue as this.
‘male’ conductors, that is…
Did not Ilan Volkov take paternity leave as well? Provided my memory serves me well, he did.
Ilan Volkov. If memory serves me well, this conductor took paternity leave well before Andris Nelsons did.
I find it shallow and disrespectful to draw conclusions about an orchestra conductor through gossip about her marriage (and pretending to understand why she married a certain person) and judging her work decisions with zero information on the circumstances. I also happen to think she is loved and respected in her country for her own merits. Congrats to Alondra De la Parra on her first child and on her spectacular career.
It’s funny (and frankly quite ridiculous) how obvious it is that people who write this type of comments have no clue of De la Parra’s career, merit and vast education.
Maybe they should do their research a bit better and learn beyond their sereotypes and prejudices.
Congratulations to her for her baby and I hope to see her back very soon!
With due respect towards the members of the Jalisco Philharmonic (Mexico) who reportedly went through a critical situation with their music director Alondra de la Parra, I feel obliged to report that our recent experience in Florida, where Maestra de la Parra conducted the Miami Symphony Orchestra, was one of the highlights of our 2014-2015 season.
Both audience and members of the orchestra were delighted with her exceptional talent and striking podium leadership.
Click on the link below and enjoy her performance of Bernstein – On The Waterfront:
https://soundcloud.com/miami-symphony-orchestra/bernstein-on-the-waterfront
Eduardo Marturet
Music Director & Conductor
The Miami Symphony Orchestra
http://www.themiso.org/
It would be very interesting to have a Discussion in any blog on: “How much free time does people have to write non sense and negative comments on artists”, but this is not the point of my Comment.
I’ve known Ms. de la Parra work for several Years. Her Artistry, Passion, Leadership, Commitment and respect for music goes beyond our understanding. It is true that Arts are a Subjective matter, but there is nothing subjective to say about Alondra’s Astonishing talents”
Congratulations on her baby and keep up with the exceptional Career
Kristhyan Benitez
Concert Pianist
Looks like she fooled you, too….
Hope she and baby are doing well. Love her conducting and her spirit. Talent and beautiful.
Alondra de la Parra is a wonderful conductor; love her style and musicianship. It is a monumental task to be on a podium among a massed gifted musicians. Nevertheless; she brings artistic leadership and her love for music! Bravo Maestro!
Sergio Rodriguez
Violinist, conductor, composer, and writer
http://www.sergioraulrodriguez.com
So fun to see how those who know nothing about music try to smear her on the basis of her private life, while those who do know praise her, and her talent. She’s not only an outstanding conductor, but an extremely nice person. Those who attack her do it for one of two reasons: envy, or ignorance.