New chief conductor in Belgium, but the intendant is the real star
NewsThe Belgian National Orchestra – no, me neither – has chosen the excellent Dutchman Antony Hermus to be chief conductor, starting a year from now.
He replaces the American Hugh Wolff.
The man calling the shots is Intendant Hans Waege, who also has a second job as Professor of Sociology at Ghent University.
Now that’s interesting. Name any other head of a national orchestra who maintains a parallel academic career.
Waege was formerly with the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
Bravo, Maestro Hermus! Brilliant conductor and a wonderful and kind person!
What’s with the “no, me neither” remark? This shows an arrogance in your instant dismissal. They are an excellent orchestra, stalwart performers at the Bozar in Brussels (hardly an insignificant venue, nationally or internationally) that I have heard several times on visits to the Belgian capital, and there are a legion of recordings from this orchestra which you should be aware of, but obviously are not. With Hermus at their helm their profile will only continue to grow, I hope. Meanwhile, you take a swipe at them… tut tut.
Well, that is Norman for you. Happily we are acquainted with the Orchestra and also its resident conductors, who have included Defauw (its founder), Cluytens, and Gielen.
Happily, NL praises Hermus as “excellent”. And his “no, me neither” can be taken as an admission of ignorance about the orchestra, which certainly does not have a prominent international profile (which it might well deserve!).
Steven: And Walter Weller, Yuri Simonov and Mikko Franck.
Played for him several times when he was just starting and knew he would do well. Congrats!
“BUT THE INTENDANT IS THE REAL STAR”
Is he really ?
Since his appointment, the intendant Hans Waege has plunged the orchestra into a deep crisis. Resulting in civil lawsuits filed by the musicians and their unions against the board and the intendant.
Culminating a few weeks ago, in a demand formulated by these same musicians and unions for his resignation. This for violations against the program law, the labor laws , unjustified dismissals and much more.
So one should think twice before calling Hans Waege a star.
I also seem to remember that his previous appointment with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (2015) didn’t end so well.
https://www.bruzz.be/culture/music-nightlife/vakbonden-willen-ontslag-voorzitter-nationaal-orkest-van-belgie-2021-06-24
A good person and a good conductor. I heard him at Komische Oper Berlin, where he was very well recieved.
I think it’s a might disingenuous of Monsieur Lebrecht to pretend that he has never heard of the Belgian National Orchestra when the death of one of its chief conductors, Georges Octors, was widely reported on this site not long ago.