Maestro cancels Paris at hours’ notice
mainIn January, Dresden cancelled a concert with the audience already streaming in after the venerable Russian conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky, 84, suffered a fall.
He may a swift recovery.
But tonight’s Orchestre de Paris concert has just been cancelled after he called in sick.
Communiqué
Le concert de l’Orchestre du Paris
du jeudi 24 mars est annulé
Guennadi Rozhdestvensky, souffrant, a dû renoncer à diriger le concert du mercredi 23 mars. Il n’est malheureusement pas rétabli aujourd’hui pour pouvoir diriger le concert de ce soir.
Very unusual, because normally Rozhdestvensky is followed around by an army of his conducting pupils – who assist in his rehearsals, and could have taken over?
It is very surprising indeed, and the Orchestre de Paris itself has 3 assistant conductors! What’s the point if they cannot – or simply aren’t allowed – to step up when the conductor falls ill? The Orchestre National de France was in a similar situation a month ago when Muti had to cancel a couple of gigs in Paris. I wonder how much it costs an orchestra to cancel at such short notice and refund all tickets. But more than anything, it is such a shame that young conductors are not given a chance to show their talent when things like this happen.
Agree 200% !
So sad. I hope he recovers well and can return to the stage soon. I find it inspiring that he is still conducting and keeps doing what he loves best.True story and close brush with the famous conductor: I remember in the late 1980s, when Maestro Rozhdestvensky was scheduled to conduct the New York Philharmonic. His wife, a respected and fine pianist, had to cancel performing Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. I was signed with I.C.M. Artists at the time and my then manager phoned (pre text, email, social media, fax) and asked, ‘Can you play Prokofiev 3 tomorrow night?’ I said, ‘Yes’. Hours later, they decided to bring in a Russian star pianist from the same roster as maestro’s instead, who was a generation before my time and worked with Maestro already. Just three months later, Maestro was scheduled to conduct Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto with his wife at the piano, again with the NY Philharmonic. I brushed it up just in case. My manager said, ‘Smart of you. But the concerto was replaced with an orchestral work’. Well, I was close by inches to work with this marvelous maestro. Wish him well and back to the podium soon!
And what was the program supposed to have been?
Sergei Rachmaninoff:
– Caprice Bohémien, Op.12
– Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op.40
– The Bells, for Choir and Orchestra, Op.35
Oh, he is a great fan of ‘The Bells’ – he gives a wonderful performance, which I’ve heard twice in concert.
Wishing him a speedy recovery!
So much for stirring the knife in the wound….
He did two great concerts with the Chicago Symphony last month,one stepping in for Muti
Heard his Rachmaninov 1 on the radio this morning. Terrific!
I was supposed to attend the yesterday concert, what a disappointment, he’s the conductor which impressed me the most, I never liked Shostakovich 4th on Cd, he gave an outstanding and moving performance with the Orchestre de Paris a few years ago, his technique is absolutely perfect, never any unnecessary effect, he can obtain orchestral downpour with a finger, and beating was mesmerizing. His knowledge of the score was absolute and he got the best of the orchestra which can be of unequal quality, even if quality has improved under Jarvi. I heard he had some disagreement with them a few years ago and left a reharsal . I am so glad they made peace and he offered me one of my best musical experience. I deeply regret he had to cancel and wishes him complete recovery and us to be able to enjoy his concerts for a long time.