Finnish chief hires northern friends in Paris
mainThe new conductor of the Orchestre de Paris, Klaus Mäkelä, is making changes at the head of its chorus.
Gone is the long-standing chorus director Lionel Sow, in charge since 2011.
Instead the chorus will have two directors from Klaus Mäkelä’s Baltoc address book.
Marc Korovitch has been hired from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (he also heads a youth choir in Paris). Ingrid Roose heads a vocal ensemble Kammerhääled as well as other choruses in Estonia.
Soon there will be reindeer on the menu at the Philharmonie canteen.
Surprise. I saw several concerts with Lionel Sow he did a very good work.
Totally inexperienced youth ; not been in the job 5 minutes ; starts antagonising people straightaway ; I wouldn’t give tuppence for his chances
You should know better than giving credit to NL’s click-bait headlines. Lionel Sow is likely heading to Radio France, who are looking for their new chorus director.
I do not think Mäkelä has had anything to say about this. This is definitely a total policy change that had already been decided by Bayle and the Ministry of Culture before Mäkelä was appointed – Bayle this summer:
“… chef d’orchestre au talent déjà unanimement reconnu, à la personnalité rayonnante, manifestant un réel désir de travailler sur le long terme avec les musiciens de l’Orchestre de Paris et adhérant au projet culturel porté par la Philharmonie” (France Musique )
And on the orchestra’s website (Direction musicale):
“Si 2021 est loin d’être l’année de toutes les certitudes, une ligne de force apparaît avec clarté : il y aura, dans l’union entre l’Orchestre de Paris et la Philharmonie, un avant et un après, lié à l’entrée en fonction de Klaus Mäkelä.”
The choice of Ingrid Roose also indicates that – and “La Maestra” is rolling on.
New music must come in and the old “masculine music” must be reduced suggestively and, according to feminist doctrine, gradually disappear completely. How fast it goes, of course, depends on how quickly this feminization, the new world ideology, can reach and take over all the important positions in the cultural sector in Paris.
“… gradually disappear completely… ”
Do you seriously believe what you are writing? Most musicians I know just want to play good music. And are happy, like myself, that we have a new and until now neglected part of the repertoire to choose from, to bring some variation to our age-old concert programmes that have been repeating themselves for decades – and probably will be for quite a few more.
The opera and classical music industry is rife with such nepotism. Always has been. Conductors and administrators hiring partners or friends as cast, coaches, assistants designers, choreographers etc etc. The list is endless. It’s a given, and whether one agrees with it or not it occurs with such regularity that it’s become standard (if not accepted) practice.
Lionel Sow did extraordinary
work there: one sat up and noticed from the first concert on. Bravo, and good wishes for the future.
Klaus Mäkelä, which I have met on a couple of occasions, is an earnest artist with integrity and not some young jump up with an attitude. I would be surprised if he had anything to do with the departure of the choir master.
Dear Mr Lebrecht
I need to inform you that your article yesterday about the Philharmonic appointing a new conductor and assistant conductor is not accurate.
It implied that Lionel Sow had been sacked or dismissed. This is not the case. After 10 successful years as the choir’s much-loved director, Lionel Sow took the decision 18 months ago, before the health crisis, to leave on a new professional project. Since then, and before the appointment of Klaus Mäkelä, a recruitment process was set up by the administration of the Orchestre de Paris to find his replacement. Marc Korovitch was appointed Principal Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris Chorus, and Ingrid Roose was appointed Deputy Conductor. Klaus Mäkelä was not responsible for these appointments and did not influence the decision making process.
Moving forward we would be grateful if you could contact us directly to check facts before publishing. We would be glad to help with any information you may need.
Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie de Paris
Thank you for this clarification, M. Tourneville. It would have been helpful had this been stated in a press release, and had that press release been sent to us. Do ensure that this is the case in future. NL
Paris is so fortunate to have “captured” a musical avatar!
Dear Mr Lebrecht
I need to inform you that your article yesterday about the Philharmonic appointing a new conductor and assistant conductor is not accurate.
It implied that Lionel Sow had been sacked or dismissed. This is not the case. After 10 successful years as the choir’s much-loved director, Lionel Sow took the decision 18 months ago, before the health crisis, to leave on a new professional project. Since then, and before the appointment of Klaus Mäkelä, a recruitment process was set up by the administration of the Orchestre de Paris to find his replacement. Marc Korovitch was appointed Principal Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris Chorus, and Ingrid Roose was appointed Deputy Conductor. Klaus Mäkelä was not responsible for these appointments and did not influence the decision making process.
Moving forward we would be grateful if you could contact us directly to check facts before publishing. We would be glad to help with any information you may need.