Uruguay signs a US music director
mainThe Uruguay National Symphony has secured Stefan Lano as its music director, which is quite a feat for a remote orchestra in the thick of a pandemic.
Lano, 68, from Worcester, Mass., has enjoyed a richly varied international career, from Albania to the Met. He is presently involved with Czech National Opera in Prague.
Lano was also a regular conductor at Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, not that far from Uruguay.
And, in other times, Erich Kleiber used to regularly conduct in Uruguay.
Jascha Horenstein conducted in Uruguay, I believe.
Horenstein, Stravinsky, Hindemith, Howard Mitchell before his appointment with the National Symphony, Toscanini…. Too many names to list here. Uruguay is a well kept secret. Don’t tell too many people about it.
Oh BRAVO, they have an American in their mist. I’m sorry but I won’t wait for the politically correct version of La Nozze (Di Figaro!?) where East meets West, or is it just Euro Trash where Whoopie Goldberg plays the Count, and Ms Fleming goes off her rocker, and there’s a sex scene between her Suzanne, Marcellini her husband and Cherubino but they leave the Count out, just like Dickens Version of Romeo and Juliet with the Mantelinis!?
Are you feeling alright? You may need to lie down. You will get over yourself soon enough.
Nijinsky, previously the author of intelligent and convention-challenging (if sometimes enraging) comments, suddenly became floridly psychotic a few weeks ago. I am hoping, and think it likely, that it will prove to be an episodic condition.
Why not? Montevideo is a beautiful city with a vibrant cultural scene, plus a quick boat ride from Buenos Aires as well if one feels the need for a larger metropolis. Sounds like an excellent position.
Montevideo is great. As is Uruguay. MV has a lot of the same benefits as Buenos, including climate, but is so much smaller it is a doddle to get around easily (not that BA is hard — things are well organised there). Very appealing appointment.
These days it seems every orchestra is good, so it wouldn’t surprise me if this one is.
I saw Stefan Lano in action once: In 2002 just weeks after Charles Dutoit abruptly resigned from the OSM, they had a season-ending concert performance of Wozzeck scheduled. Which Dutoit was going to conduct (a little outside his wheelhouse but credit for trying). Lano stepped in and from what I could tell did an outstanding job. Of course it’s the OSM and they were more than up to the task. Not sure if they ever invited him back after that, but he came through for them at a difficult moment. Good to see he’s still getting work.
Uruguay’s National Orchestra is very lucky to get Stefan Lano. It’s a good orchestra and he is an exceptional conductor with in-depth musical knowledge that goes way beyond just knowing the score. His “Rake’s Progress” at the Met 1997 and “Dead Man Walking” at the Semper Oper Dresden remain highlights in my operatic experience.
He’ll probably be happy for the change of scene after Weimar.
Nice to see an older white male being selected instead of the Flavor of the Month.
OK, the PC Police are free to go after me.
I heard from an inside source that Martha Argerich and Charles Dutoit decided to get engaged while they were performing with (I believe) that orchestra in Uruguay.
Oh, well, we won’t hold that against it.
Thinking of changing my name to Mr. Twist already. Father to Oliver… brought to you by the BBC!
Because I want to see Renee Fleming come in and inhale the whole business, once she’s finished dressing up a phrase by Johann Sebastian Bach! If he ever gets finished building ANYTHING up!
The LSO played in Uruguay with Rattle on their South American tour two years ago.
And if Martha Argerich couldn’t get that man to stop, it’s a done deal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhhdPPtTK8w&fmt=22
uruguay’s per capita income is only USD 400-550, how can people afford to go to concerts? what’s Lano’s salary?
According to World Bank data for 2019, Uruguay’s per capita income was USD16,190, similar to that of Latvia, Hungary and Poland.