Christian Thielemann: I don’t need to be chief conductor
NewsThe German condcutor is being headhunted by the Chicago Symphony and Berlin’s Staatsoper.
Does he really need a job?
He tells Merkur.de his diary is blocked through to 2028: ‘I have things I can’t cancel. I have inquiries that I could take on… Tours are planned, including the Vienna Philharmonic. There are opera revivals and a ‘Ring’ at La Scala.”…I’m very relaxed and just have a look. By the way, I don’t have to be the boss anymore. Ever since I was 28, ever since I took office in Nuremberg, I’ve always been the boss somewhere.’
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Is he really being headhunted? Or asked as a guest conductor; a totally different thing. I don’t believe this: “I don’t have to be the boss anymore.”
There are obviously many orchestra which are willing to hire him.
Translation from German:
He wants either or both the Berlin and/or Chicago jobs.
It sounds like he might be interested in a “Principal Guest Conductor” position like Pierre Boulez had in Chicago.
Then what?
Keep Muti music director for life?
Because who else would be willing to come in as the new music director if you know Theilemann is already installed monopolizing over the core Austro-Germanic repertoire?
It might be a temporary solution to see if Thielemann can work as a music director in an American city looking for diversity…
He may state not to be the boss anymore but he will remain bossy.
On the Chicago side, who’s surprised?
Maestro Thielemann just came and saw the half empty halls; he noted that the local media and press (Hedy Weiss/WTTW, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times) in bed with the Italian Stallion, did not bother to review his concerts, unless I am mistaken and missed their articles; he heard first hand the diminished level of the orchestra; he was informed that Muti will be appointed “Music Director Emeritus for Life”; he checked his own bank accounts and saw he has enough to live more than comfortably for the rest of his life.
In summary, he came and saw the state of …. affairs ;-).
Thielemann is arguably the greatest conductor alive; without a doubt, one of the very best ones. He is wealthy, accomplished, sought after all over the world, and smart.
Why would he go to Chicago?
That the local media ignored him could be a first sign that in Chicago he is “persona non grata” because of what could be perceived as right wing political orientation?
I don’t think so. Could Thielemann be perceived as more right wing than Muti? The Italian Stallion is idolized by the Italian far right. He was appointed Music Director in Rome under the neo-fascist mayor Alemanno. Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy’s racist Northern League and vice PM in the new neo-fascist government, posts Muti’s controversial interviews to his own Facebook account (just Google “Salvini and Riccardo Muti” and click on the images), to take a stance against a more inclusive society.
Muti has also given interviews which echo Trump and perpetuate the stereotype of immigrants as dishonest, here: https://www.altaterradilavoro.com/riccardo-muti-fa-a-pezzi-con-eleganza-il-politicamente-corretto/).
Unlike Trump, he uses Latin quotations in the interviews.
“…arguably the greatest conductor alive; without a doubt, one of the very best ones.”
But no matter where he goes, people get fed up with his Prussian character – except in Vienna.
His agent is one lucky man right now, you only get paid when there are new contracts to sign, and the more the better, not sitting on some 10-year-old contract.
So there’s at least one person praying for a big fat American paycheck, I mean, directorship for Thielemann.
Christian Thielemann has no agent. And doesn’t need one.
I’m sure Chicago would pay handsomely but I think he’d be much happier in Berlin to be honest, mixing.
Yes, the Berlin of 1933.
… mixing concert and opera performances. The dark sound of the orchestra is surely in Thielemann’s wheelhouse as well.
Has Thielemann been blown away by the today’s CSO ? Can’t he hear the Staatsoper Berlin poor acoustics ?
Orchestra’s fighting over Thielemann is unnecessary. Gatti is available and was conductor or the “world’s #1 orchestra” before he was me tooed to death.
Aha… Gatti available ? Please explain to us.
I’m assuming he would leave Millan for Chicago or New York.
Tsss…. Gatti succeeds Thielemann in Dresden in August 2024.
His rehabilitation is imminent then. NY Phil would will be a great fit if they can manage to appoint one more white male before…
As I said a while back,
“ I think CT is wonderful, especially in the opera house. But the perennial contractual problems are a concern. Maybe he could be persuaded NOT to seek a “permanent” post, but instead undertake an ongoing sequence of guest appearances such as his Chicago Bruckner 8s and his Berlin Staatsoper Rings?”
I don’t think CT is all that wonderful- he has all the charisma of an SS Sturmbahn Fuhrer on the podium. No thanks very much