Haitink: Concertgebouw were hasty over Gatti’s dismissal

From the meastro’s retirement interview in Volkskrant:

‘I think hasty decisions have been made. In addition, I find it worrying that suddenly everyone disappears from the leadership. Gatti gone, director Raes gone, it’s a complete sale. I understand that some of the musicians now want to take charge of the matter. I welcome that, because if the cliché of the cynical orchestra musician does not apply anywhere, it is in Amsterdam. But an orchestra is never unanimous and then you might get thunder again. I especially hope that the artistic quality does not fall. ”

What do you advise?
‘Find a capable director who coordinates well. I have suggested a few names of people I know and trust. The ability of the musicians is great, but they are the tip of an iceberg. There is a lot of work under water that they cannot do themselves.’

Do you have tips for a new chef?
‘I actually think that the job of chief conductor is becoming obsolete. The famous names from the past, Willem Mengelberg and Eduard van Beinum, spent a lot of time in Amsterdam. These days chefs constantly travel from one orchestra to another.’