Breaking: Nathalie Stutzmann loses her orchestra
mainThe contralto-turned-conductor has just issued this statement:
It is with deep regret that the orchestra Orfeo 55, and its founder and artistic director Nathalie Stutzmann, announce the end of its activities.
Despite the support of the French Ministry of Culture, the orchestra’s financial situation has remained precarious due to a lack of sufficient subsidies and has deteriorated over the past few months, no longer allowing it to continue to operate properly.
Nathalie Stutzmann is deeply saddened by this situation but confirms that given the extent of the development of her career as a symphonic and opera conductor, it is now impossible for her to devote the necessary time to restoring the financial balance that would ensure the sustainability of the ensemble.
Nathalie Stutzmann made history with her pioneering modernity in the company of the orchestra, being the very first woman to sing and conduct simultaneously.
All music lovers will have a wonderful memory of Orfeo 55’s concerts and recorded discs – on DGG albums Vivaldi “Prima Donna” and Bach “Une Cantate Imaginaire”, on Warner/Erato albums Handel “Heroes from the Shadows” and the arie antiche “Quella Fiamma” – the last one – “Contraltos” – will be released in autumn 2020 on Warner/Erato. In addition to her conducting career, Nathalie Stutzmann, an exclusive Warner/Erato artist, will continue to perform regularly as a contralto.
In other words, big mainstream orchestras are hiring her to conduct now, so she’s lost interest in the little Baroque orchestra she founded to accompany her singing.
Or maybe it turns out that she’s meant for performing, not managing. Not many people are cut out for both. (Would you want Barenboim, for example, as executive director of your orchestra?)
Your comment is so mistaken and quite unfair. It’s a shame there are so many “likes”.
She is one of the top names to replace Marin Alsop, as MD of Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra in 2020.
Baroque performer forms an orchestra, starts to conduct in solid age, uses it like trampoline and abandons it afterwards when necessary conducting contracts are achieved
I regret there will be no more albums with this wonderful ensemble. I wish all the best for their futures.
I will miss the wonderful sounds created by Nathalie Stutzmann and Orfeo 55. Together they brought a depth of feeling, sensitivity and resonance to their interpretations that was underpinned by great technical ability and inspirational musicianship. In my opinion, they were the perfect Baroque ensemble.
Such vibrancy and fluency is usually only possible to achieve by smaller ensembles. I think it very short sighted for funders to prioritise the big noises over smaller ensembles like these who offer something very different to the philharmonics.
I imagine too, Orfeo 55 has also fallen victim to being led by such a gifted talent as Nathalie Stutzmann.
The focus on her musical preferences was always going to be their Achilles heel.
But does that matter?
What they did together was sublime. Their last offering, Contralto, is wonderful and a fine goodbye.