Munich puts Ukrainian in Gergiev’s podium
NewsWith a gesture as subtle as two fingers in the air, the Munich Philharmonic opened its season with the Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv and the Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov’s Elegie for String Orchestra. Review here.
The orchestra lost its music director in March when Putin’s acolyte Valery Gergiev refused to condemn the Russian war on Ukraine.
Yeah, indeed a nice gesture. If she only would be a better conductor.
Well, Gergiev set a very low bar to clear.
I’ve never heard Gergiev (either with Vienna or London or Marinksy) playing anything, even the Russian warhorses, and not come away utterly disappointed, and frankly baffled as to what the fuss was all about. The orchestras always sounded under rehearsed and the conducting haphazard.
While I agree with your assessment, he used to be better. I vividly remember a week in 1987, when he took his Leningrad Opera to its sister city Hamburg for a week of lesser known Russian operas. It was absolutely marvelous – so great that I still remember those evenings. Since then, a lot of things went wrong with him…
It is very sad. I first experienced his conducting in 1995 when I was in St Petersburg studying. It was legendary and although the musicians didn’t really understand what all the quivering meant, his mariinsky performances were epic. ( I do remember however that he never conducted the Rite when there were dancers on stage… That says something. )
You got the point my friend. It’s not about music or conducting. So even more they should make her Gergiev‘s successor because she is Ukrainian and a woman.
That’s because he routinely leaves the REAL work (i.e. rehearsals) to his lackeys, err, assistants. Gives him more time to keep drinking. He’s been a fraud for at least the last decade.
Agreed. See my comment above.
Agreed. The LSO appointed him on reputation, a mistake. The players told me he flies in, don t rehearse much if at all and insults the audience with a poor performance.
Gergiev is a heavy style boring conductor. Every replacement will be a blessing.
Agreed. His Mahler cycle with the LSO was dire.
Oh joy.
The front line is coming closer.
Lyniv on a podium in position of a Guest Conductor? Why not.
Lyniv in position of Music Director? No, thank you.
Gergiev on a podium and you’re a string player within 15 feet of him?
No, thank you.
I hear he is afflicted with “BBO” (beyond BO).
Let me explain – I agree with Mr. Tet in the comments above – current Gergiev really set a low bar. I think that he payed more attention to Mariinsky anyway, and Munich was just a side gig gor him.
I think that Munich should recrive a new, and possibly young, music director that will concentrate on Munich phil only.
Only 11 comments on Lyniv ? Really ?!!! I bet many have been censored.
Have never been so impressed with Gergiev’s conducting. Unconventionally he even resorts to using a ‘toothpick’ instead of the classic baton. Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado… anyone?