Maestro move: Santtu steps down
NewsFinnish media report that Santtu-Matias Rouvali will be leaving the Tampere Philharmonic after next season.
Rouvali, 36, has put in ten years at Tampere and is now reckoned to be in the running for the New York Philharmonic and other top jobs.
He is in his first full season as music director of the Philharmonia in London.
Rouvali told the Sanomat today: ‘It could have carried on like this, but I think the (Tampere) orchestra needs a chief conductor who is more present. My four weeks just aren’t enough for that position of chief conductor. It became a bit of a matter of conscience for me already. I don’t think it’s fair to go on like this. Now is the time for the orchestra to move forward with a chief conductor who is more with it. Above all, I have always wanted to think about the best of the orchestra.’
Photo: Laura Luostarinen
It seems that it change nothing concerning his duties in Goteborg. When we are talking about Rouvali I have the feeling that everybody outside Sweden forget that he’s working with this great orchestra. But of course I think that he will have the opportunity to work as MD with onother orchestra. Two orchestras it’s possible. Three not.
I haven’t forgotten. The orchestra and Rouvali knocked my socks off when I heard them in Stockholm about four years ago. They’re no stepping-stone.
yes, the 2 Sibelius CDs he made with them are amazing and he should continue to complete that cycle, which can directly compete or surpass Vanska – we need this !
He’s going to have to work on his English if he’s about to take New York and Chicago by storm
He won’t take anyone by storm.
I hope someone can help with something that has had me perplexed since the concert I attended in Gothenburg on Friday night. Maestro Rouvali was leaning awkwardly on the podium rail for most of the performance – looked like he was in pain. Also, there was a man seated in front of him, simply sitting and listening to the performance. There were comments from someone before the concert (possibly orchestra CEO?), but all in Swedish so if these two observations were explained then I hope someone has a rough translation to share. Thank you!
Maybe he thinks that he’s already the old Karajan.
I have seen a concert in that concert hall last november as a tourist. It’s true that it’s a very strange place because the stage is very inclined and it’s the same thing for the spectators. There’s a tiny door for the musicians to come on stage and if you are at the center you see only the musician in front not at all the other musicians. but I realy like the sound very special of this place. it was the house of Neeme Jarvi. Concerning Rouvali he was in very good shape when I have seen him. I don’t understad why this marvelous orchestra don’t do more tour in Europe. And I blame rouvali don’t make more records like jarvi father in the 80’s and 90’s.
He’s much better even now
Thanks for your replies – seems odd that he really seemed out of sorts. I mean he’s 36, not a decrepit nonagenarian and I’ve only seen clips of him very active at the podium. Still, it took nothing away from an otherwise marvellous concert.
Any ideas on why someone would be sitting on a chair between conductor and violas for the entire concert, doing nothing but listening? He was sitting perpendicular to the audience – ie. left ear facing the conductor, right ear facing orchestra.
I completely agree that it’s a fabulous hall, just love the architecture and sound.