Teodor Currentzis changes his brand
NewsThe evasive Greek-Russian conductor thinks a name change can help his predicament with the Kremlin-funded MusicaEterna.
From Der Standard Vienna:
The Greek-Russian star conductor Teodor Currentzis has a new project called “Utopia”. According to a broadcast, this is not an orchestra in the usual sense of the word, but “a unique creative community of like-minded people who have dedicated themselves to the search for the best sound and the true spirit of the musical work”. At the start there are 112 musicians from 28 countries on board. In October he performs at the Wiener Konzerthaus.
Just be honest and call it Cult.
Is that with an ‘l’?
I fear his music-making not less than his sources of money.
Dystopia is more fitting for his brand of music making.
Wonder what has happened to Solti’s World Orchestra for Peace which was led by Gergiev?
Our peaceful world is becoming Utopia.
Might be worth having a read of Semyon Bychkov’s intervew in the Times yesterday about not cancelling everything Russian. The constant referencesd to “Kremin funded” and “Putin funded” are tabloid at best.
And I look forward to the cancellation of everything British and American the next time they unleash hell on some poor middle eastern country.
Standard straw-man “what-about-ism.” So two wrongs make a right? Try something else, comrade.
Someone is to the symphony what Marilyn Manson is to alternative rock…
…or looks like it…
……..or acts like it…..
There once was a progressive rock band called Utopia.
Or he is reacting to this story: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/26/arts/music/teodor-currentzis-musicaeterna.html?searchResultPosition=1
I hope he keeps his kit on and concentrate on the music making …
Don’t bank on it.
“a unique creative community of like-minded people who have dedicated themselves to the search for the best sound and the true spirit of the musical work” That’s every good orchestra.
…minus the cliché PR-speak, i hope.
To paraphrase the venerable Dr. Johnson:
“All this peace, love, and Woke stuff is merely refuge for a scoundrel.”
In the case of this conductor, it’s more like “metopia.”
But aren’t all orchestras striving “for the best sound and the true spirit of [a] musical work”? Grow up Mr Currentzis.
I’ve heard three of his recordings and found them to be heavy-handed and clunky. He is to conducting what “Kennedy” is to violinists—a mediocrity who fashions himself after rock stars and thinks he has talent.
Jordan, then you should hear Nigel in the Elgar & the Beethoven Concerti, the ones with Handley and Tennstedt, that is.
heavy handed and clunky?
No, it’s the ugliest stuff I ever heard from an ugly person.
Actually you are wrong about Kennedy.
Some people make a one-off and Kennedy did Walton well, which said he was good.
Just for the record, Kennedy had/has talent but shat on the people that got him there, probably because he realised classical music is very much a mug’s game too.
Mistake after mistake followed inc the crazy Vivaldi stuff.
SAD.
Correntzis has zero talent, no matter what if it’s called, it can be diesel or calvin klein for all we care, Theodor C is to orchestras what jeans material is to covering some ass.
He can’t rehearse an orchestra for toffee, & has never made any memorable performances.
I’ve recorded him, watched him and seen his pathetic attempts to wave his arms around.
(Spivakov really isn’t much better, another one I recorded and watched a lot).
Why is it that those who desperately need major psychotherapy often prosper in the arts?
This guy needs serious help, and not from Vladimir! Astounding to believe that Mortier considered him a genius (he told me so) : if he were still alive to see what this presumptuous monster has become I’m not sure he’d adhere, or be fooled, any further.
(1) Your orchestra becomes a problem because of tainted funding/whatever.
(2) Dump your tainted orchestra, step over it and move on with a new one.
you can be sure, that most of the musicians will be the same in this “new” orchestra
There is Nothing unique or new about having an orchestra or ensemble which members are from different countries and offer audiences around the world outstanding performances!!! Two examples:
1. Orchestra Of The Eighteenth Century founded by Frans Brugge and Lucy Van Dael in 1981
2. Il Pomod’Oro Ensemble founded in 2012
So, there is nothing unique or particularly innovative in Mr. Currentzis project …..
I’d been going to say that. What he’s proposing is simply what period-instrument groups have been doing for three or four decades.
Oh for crying out loud! Plus ca change, plus que c’est la meme chose!!!
Whatever you call them, I say they STILL are incapable of performing very good baroque music.