Where’s Andris Nelsons?

Where’s Andris Nelsons?

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norman lebrecht

July 07, 2020

In Switzerland, a long way away from his Boston orchestra, and not that close to Leipzig, either.

 

“During these past months, I have been reflecting a lot on both personal and philosophical questions,” he said. “For me, this time has been a reminder of the real values of life, family, love, sacrifice, compassion and true friendship. Never before have I had such an extended opportunity to enjoy family time, to read, to sleep and simply to think.”

Read on here.

Comments

  • E. says:

    “If music be the food of love, play on.”

    After I read Nelsons on this quiet time for contemplation: Shakespeare’s line comes to me on its own.

    • buxtehude says:

      “Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
      The appetite may sicken, and so die.”

      That is the rest of the sentence you started. Brush up your Shakespeare!

      I’m under the power of music too but perplexed when people get so sugary about it; music’s use and effects are various.

  • Kyle A Wiedmeyer says:

    Hey, he’s gotta spend that $1+ million that Boston pays him on something!

    • Gustavo says:

      Or bring it to a Swiss bank.

    • Henry williams says:

      If he does not spend the money . His children will inherit it and spend it on having a good time.

      • Oscar says:

        It only takes one or two blacksheep to literally burn through money planned to make several generations comfortable. It’s unforgivable. The idea of “family” can really be overrated at times.

        • Henry williams says:

          I spent my money on a good time. Just as well .i was hit by a car in 2018
          I now have limited mobility. Even if i get compensation i do not have the
          Strength to enjoy it .so much for saving.

  • BP says:

    Good. He’s been looking stretched out and exhausted for a few years now.

    • Gustavo says:

      Yes, remember him sweating into his moleskin suit on a New Year’s day in Vienna.

      Leif Slim-Jim Segerstam should become his role model.

  • PHF says:

    Dear Nelsons, with the kind of money you make you can sleep and think for a lot of years without changing your life style.

  • Maybe the solution for him would be to stay in the Azores hahahaha

  • Guest says:

    I am just a simple man that love music and struggle in this difficult time like many other people. In my narrow world, a leader should be with his team and community in time of crisis. It is about time that a principle conductor of an orchestra will have a real meaning also in this sense.

  • sam says:

    Since when did ease of life become a virtue to brag about publicly?

    “Hey, I’m rich and I don’t have to work, I don’t even volunteer, I just lie around all day long reading, sleeping and thinking.”

    Even socialites have a cause they do lunch for.

    • IC225 says:

      Er, there was this thing called Covid-19; there were lockdowns and travel bans and stuff, it was quite big news for a while. You might have heard of it, if you had time to look up for a moment from judgmental shitposting.

    • Jay says:

      Another rip off conductor….has found a bunch of dim wits to support him

    • Bishop says:

      Your comment reeks of resentment. You know damn right well that you would be doing the same thing if you had his money. But you don’t, so you can’t.

      There is no reason to be a sucker and blindly cater to people in such a corrupt, complex world.

  • Gustavo says:

    Maybe he is just having coffee with Paavo to discuss a Baltic-wide expansion of the Pärnu Festival to escape the gloomy prospects for Salesburg, Luciferne, Gayreuth, Danglewood, Blindbourne etc.

  • RW2013 says:

    The conductor one should miss the least.

  • Rugbyfiddler says:

    Did you have vitriol for breakfast or does it come naturally?

  • jay says:

    People are dying by the thousands and he is telling about his good life.Bostonians are stupid to keep him on.

  • Scott says:

    My goodness! How you people think! You are outraged because he’s a successful musician? “For me, this time has been a reminder of the real values of life, family, love, sacrifice, compassion and true friendship. Never before have I had such an extended opportunity to enjoy family time, to read, to sleep and simply to think.”
    The outrage of it all. How do you all feel about the money that Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards make? It sounds like the people in England are getting crazier that people in the USA. Scary, indeed!

    • Jay says:

      No one denies him his success It’s his BS writ large
      comments on life that offends .Let him come back to Boston and practice his love and sacrifice and
      compassion ,perhaps give concerts for those hit by the virus, and for those that cannot afford tickets.
      How about a few benefit concerts to help in these stressful times. It’s safer to BS from Switzerland.
      No one objects to what monies Mr. McCartney Mr.Jaggerand Mr Richards make ,it’s their business.

  • Fenway says:

    Maybe he could take some time to memorize a score or two.

  • Save the MET says:

    If you follow his wife on Instagram, she ain’t hanging in Switzerland. Pull her feed. (She’s been in Latvia, the Greek Islands etc.) They are with her, so I’m not sure what all this family nonsense is about. I suppose he’s “zooming” to see his kids.

    • norman lebrecht says:

      are you sure that’s not his ex-wife?

      • Save the MET says:

        I couldn’t correct it, yes his ex wife. That said, the children are with her as they appear every few days in her videos. That said, they are his only children, so if he’s speaking about family…..

  • Harold Wilkin says:

    Andris Nelson’s really needs to focus on shedding some weight for the sake of both his health and his career. It was not pleasant to watch him sweating at the New Year concert, wiping the sweat back over his hair then shaking hands with the leader. His recently acquired bulk makes him appear ungainly and awkward when he is conducting. I think that he is much overrated in any event.

  • David Goulden says:

    Saw him conduct the VPO years ago. I think it was his debut with the orchestra. The main work was Dvorak’s 9th. Nothing against him as a person and I don’t doubt his love of music. But Christ, what a deeply irritating/distracting fussbudget to watch. Vowed never to watch him again, or buy any of his records. If I was a member of the VPO – or any of the other bands he conducts – I would resent his podium antics.

  • David Goulden says:

    Apologies. Meant to write fusspot – not fussbudget.

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