The last sight of Bernard Haitink
mainThe Dutch conductor leaves the London stage after leading the Vienna Philharmonic in Bruckner’s 7th symphony at the BBC Proms last night.
Haitink, 90, has spent much of his working life in London as music director successively of the London Philharmonic, Glyndebourne and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
Chris Christodoulou’s picture captures perfectly his dignified departure.
photo: Christidoulou/BBC tel. 09796 157455
Is he conducting with a staff now, à la Jean-Baptiste Lully?
Sam is ill-mannered. Awkwardly cracking the wrong joke on such a solemn occasion, giggling and sniggering at is own misplaced witticism.
Well said! It was a cheap shot at the expense of a modest but wonderfully musical conductor who never sought to put himself centre stage
What a very idiotic comment. Shameful Sham, absolutely!!
This remark should be deleted, and its poster banned. Inexplicable how it ever passed Moderation. Do the decent thing, please, Norman?
It was just a joke guys. What are you, snowflake millennials? Every little joke, no matter how slightly perceived as non-PC sets you off into a SJW rage. I’m sick of it. Go watch some South Park and chill out.
It was a joke, indeed. A sick one. Pierced its maker’s foot, like Lully’s staff…
Meanwhile, all dignity remains solely Haitink’s.
Because you’re too childish to handle a joke? Someone get this baby boy his milk and pacifier before he throws a hissy fit.
To those who are clamoring for NL to censor me, my comment garnered a 100 likes (and counting).
Lighten up. I have no doubt Haitink has a way better sense of humor than you all.
The man ain’t dead, he ain’t even retiring, he’s just taking a sabbatical. He’ll be conducting for another 10 years (at least).
So I hope he does conduct with a staff one day. It’s way more dignified than a toothpick (Gergiev).
but it still wasnt funny
Just listen!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/collection:p07hbtcr/m00083nh
Thank you very much!
That is what Bruckner sounds like
I always knew that I was in the presence of greatness the 2 or 3 times I was fortunate to hear him conduct. A titan of the podium.
i count myself very lucky to have been in the pressence of true greatness twice in my life Karajan and Haitink
Not even in the same league. He’s only considered great because the competition for great conductors these days is so dismal.
Having attended the final concert in Salzburg and listened again to the Prom broadcast, all I can do is salute possibly the very last of the truly great conductors. At the service of the music, not of himself. Immense knowledge worn gracefully, in utter humility.
Deeply moving.
Who on Earth would dislike Erich’s comment??!!
Daniel Barenboim?
People who do not agree with the fact that he is the LAST of the truly great conductors…
Novagerio: good question!
Well “last of the truly great conductors” is pretty silly tbh, even if it was written in the understandable emotion of the moment.
Well, what if you didn’t think he was the very last of the truly great conductors? I didn’t give it a thumbs-down, and I like his work, but I’m not sure I’m ready to award that title!
Everybody doesn’t like something. No one is universally loved.
“very last of the truly great conductors”. How do you figure that?
Farewell to an era, what’s more to be said?
Best conductor in my lifetime – it’s that simple.
The last sight in the concert platform will be in Lucerne next Friday and I will be there.
I hope he will go on with his masterclasses.
On the other side, as far as I know, Glyndebourne is not in London.
Unlike many other conductors, including the great names like Giulini, Klemperer, Bohm , Ormandy, Dorati, Maazel or even Bernstein(who was relatively young when he died), his performances have remained fresh and free from mannerisms in advanced age. Just like another great musician Alfred Brendel over a decade ago, Haitink have chosen to exit when he is still at the top of his game.
Kurt Sanderling also made his exit at 90, on a high note, and lived to 99. I am sure many readers on this blog wish Haitink a wonderful retirement, in good health, hopefully for at least another decade.
I wish I could have been there. Was it sold out?
Packed to the hilt. Never have a witnessed an entire audience on its feet crying and cheering at the same time
It was sold out within 90 minutes of the tickets becoming available though there seemed to be some empty seats in the gallery where I was. Unfortunately people were still being let in just as the Beethoven started.
Last of the titans.
Is Muti still alive? How about Chailly? Is Blomstedt still going?
Wonderful photograph which captures splendidly the poignancy of Mr Haitinks final exit from a UK stage. There will always be great conductors and he was of the very best. Haitink and the Concertgebouw was my first ever live concert. Mahler 5 in the Hull City Hall. It remains one of the finest I ever have seen. I will continue to treasure my many recordings with him at the helm. I hope a long and happy retirement awaits him.
The photo reminds me of “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog” by Caspar David Friedrich.
and “Der Mönch am Meer”
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Mönch_am_Meer#/media/Datei:Caspar_David_Friedrich_-_Der_Mönch_am_Meer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
His 1966 Concertgebouw Bruckner 7 is my desert island Bruckner 7. Hopefully these last Haitink concerts with the VPO will be released, hopefully also on Vinyl.
Whoever played 1st trumpet on that recording deserves a scholarship to Valhalla.
later performances of that symphony with the Dresden staatskapelle were better, imo
And thanks, BBC, for yet again ignoring one of the truly great proms. (Mackerras’s Patience was another woeful omission.) Presumably you couldn’t afford the VPO after paying your vacuous celebs far too much.
Er, you do know the BBC paid for and promoted the whole concert, broadcast it live and have put it online free to listen?
To listen:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/collection:p07hbtcr/m00083nh
To buy:
https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/bernard-haitink-conducts-bruckner/
To compare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMH8AgprRcY
Unfortunately not available in UK
The last time I was at a concert with a conductor who needed the aid of a walking stick was several months before Harnoncourt died. It was the Musikverein in May the year before, and very moving it was.
Previn needed someone to help him onto the podium several years before he died.
– as did Sir Adrian Boult
I feel sorry for Murray Perahia who was supposed to have been part of this. He has now been cancelling a lot. Anybody have news of how he is ?
Maestro, thank you for the music.