Boston’s assistant is summoned by Chicago

Boston’s assistant is summoned by Chicago

News

norman lebrecht

February 19, 2022

Edo de Waart has pulled out of his Chicago Symphony concerts next month ‘due to unforeseen scheduling complications.’

Jumping in is Boston Symphony’s assistant conductor, the young Russian Anna Rakitina.

 

 

Comments

  • Alank says:

    She is terrific. Saw her conduct at Tanglewood this fast summer. Dynamic and very musical. The BSO seemed to enjoy playing under her baton! Best of luck to her

    • music lover says:

      A young conductor,maybe not really experienced,but obviously gifted….I´ve played under her,quite recently…It was a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable concert..Your old fart mentality is exactly what ,thanks god,rapidly disappears from orchestras.You can´t train conducting at home,and not in a conservatory.You have to learn it by doing it….6 days a week,for years and years….Some older colleagues in Stuttgart told me about the Tristan performance of a young Kapellmeister,which almost fell apart several times and almost came to a halt.His name was Carlos Kleiber….

  • Insider says:

    Probably, she has learned anything after her disastrous final of the German Conducting Competition few years ago.

    • music lover says:

      Disastrous?Actually it was pretty good.But what does a 41 ys orchestra veteran know in comparison against a real insider…..

  • Frank Flambeau says:

    Edo is old. He lives in nearby Madison, Wisconsin, so what scheduling conflicts he could have are unclear; probably health related. He’s one of the all time greats.

    • music lover says:

      I always found him incredibly dull.

      • Achim Mentzel says:

        Wow, we finally agree on something!

      • Kyle A Wiedmeyer says:

        He’s quite well known for being a score-reader, so to speak.

        In any case, just this past weekend I saw him conduct his old orchestra the Milwaukee Symphony in Beethoven 6 and the Elgar Cello Concerto (with the MSO’s brilliant principal cellist Susan Babini), and everything went as planned but he definitely seemed his 81-year-old self, when traversing the stage at least.

  • Kenny says:

    Don’t you have any negative vibes at all? Otherwise, you don’t fit in here, sorry to say.

  • music lover says:

    She is fantastic!!!!Her Tanglewood debut with the BSO was marvelous!!!

  • Old Man in the Midwest says:

    I wish her well.

    There is a danger, however, in getting this opportunity before being really ready and before they are truly mature enough to step in front of a great, world-class orchestra.

    The goal is not to conduct the CSO one time. It’s to get invited back.

    I hope she’s ready but from the clip that someone posted below of the Brahms 4, she’s still quite green.

  • MOST READ TODAY: