Just in: Rotterdam principal flute wins the Carl Nielsen

Just in: Rotterdam principal flute wins the Carl Nielsen

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norman lebrecht

March 31, 2019

The judges have awarded the first flute prize to Josephine Olech of France, principal flute of the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

Second was Marianna Julia Żołnacz of Poland.

Third was the Spaniard, Rafael Adobas.

The final round was outstanding.

 

Comments

  • buxtehude says:

    Anyone who’s not heard Nielsen’s flute concerto may be in for a great big treat:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW3ZxOp9bQQ

    Coundn’t find the winner’s perf on YT, if it exists.

  • Mustafa Kandan says:

    Not very good news for Rotterdam Philharmonic. She will either go solo or move to another orchestra such as Berlin or Vienna Philharmonics, or Bavarian Radio Symphony.

    • Bruce says:

      Maybe, maybe not. She’s certainly good enough, but it depends on what she actually wants to do.

      ~30 years ago Timothy Hutchins famously turned down the principal flute positions in New York and (twice) Boston because he liked Montreal.

    • MacroV says:

      Probably not. There will have to be an opening in one of those orchestras, which may not happen anytime soon, and Rotterdam is a great orchestra, not easy to “step up” from. And a solo flute career isn’t necessarily such a great thing; even the great Emmanuel Pahud returned to the Berlin Phil after a couple years of doing solo/teaching (still maintaining a healthy solo career in his non-Phil weeks). I actually wonder whether winning this competition is any kind of step up for someone who already won a major principal job.

  • The other two finalists were outstanding, but much like Sebastian Jacot, outstanding winner in 2014 and now Gewandhaus principal, Olech is the
    finished article and a well above the others. A wonderful player. Bravo!

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