Maestro swoop: Verbier puts Gergiev in Levine’s former role
mainThe Verbier Festival, which has failed to answer questions about James Levine’s tenure as music director of the festival orchestra between 2000 and 2009, has announced Valery Gergiev as its next m.d., from this summer.
He succeeds Charles Dutoit, who retired after eight seasons.
The orchestra, with players aged 16 to 29, requires intensive rehearsal.
That is not Valery Gergiev’s forte. He is a last-minute kind of music director.
This is a questionable appointment in troubling times. Martin Engstroem, the founder (below), is earnestly trying to focus attention on the festival’s 25th anniversary.
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