Four great orchestras are in hot pursuit of a music director

The competition is suddenly fierce.

The New York Philharmonic needs to replace Jaap van Zweden. Frontrunners from the current audition season are Gustavo Dudamel, Susanna Mälkki and the deceptively young-looking Finn, Santtu-Matias Rouvali (pic). Expect further challenge from a third Finn, Klaus Mäkelä. And don’t overlook a change of mind by a fourth, Esa-Pekka Salonen.

One early management favourite, the Lithuanian Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, has ruled herself out while she raises a young family.

The Munich Philharmonic, shorn of Valery Gergiev, needs urgently to make an appointment. Frontrunners are the Austrian Manfred Honeck, the part-time Englishman Daniel Harding and the Italian Daniele Gatti.

The Chicago Symphony has been somewhat desultory in seeking a successor to Riccardo Muti, who may yet renew for another term. Names presently in the frame are Marin Alsop and Manfred Honeck. Nobody has yet made a convincing case.

The Concertgebouw has got precisely nowhere since it fired Gatti. Amsterdam seems to have forgotten how to appoint a chief. At this rate, they are likely to lose out and come last.

Also in the market is the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, where Antonio Pappano is moving to the LSO. Parties have formed behind certain estimable British conductors but no compelling candidate has yet presented.