All-new 2023 power couples of classical music
NewsThere have been some significant changes in the 2020 global power list as the Netrebkos slip into the relegation zone and some others suffered break-ups.
These are the big hitters in 2023.
1 Yuja Wang and Klaus Mäkelä
Cool pianist with hot young conductor, their agents are planning joint gigs for several years to come.
2 Met boss Peter Gelb, Ukrainian activist conductor Kerri-Lynn Wilson
3 Edinburgh Festival director Nicola Benedetti, composer-trumpeter Wynton Marsalis
4 Tenor Jonas Kaufmann, opera director Christiane Lutz
5 Pianists Lang Lang, Gina Alice Redlinger
6 Soprano Sonya Yoncheva, Liverpool conductor Domingo Hindoyan
7 Ulster conductor Daniele Rustioni, violinist Francesca Dego
8 Glyndebourne owner Gus Christie, soprano Danielle DeNiese
9 Russian-Lithuanian pianists Lukas Geniusas, Anna Geniushene
10 Montreal symphony conductor Rafael Payare, cellist Alisa Weilerstein
11 Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, Vienna opera director Vasily Barkhatov
12 Tenor Roberto Alagna, soprano Aleksandra Kurzak
13 Violinist Renaud Capucon, media-savvy tV host Laurence Ferrari
14 Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, violist Pierre Tourville
15 Conductor Dalia Stasevska, rock musician and Sibelius heir Lauri Porra
16 Russian violinist Vadim Repin, dancer Svetlana Zakharova
17 BBC conductor Jessica Cottis, soprano Elsa Ridderstedt
18 Composer Anna Clyne, audio engineer Jody Elff
19 Conductor David Robertson, pianist Orli Shaham
20 Violinist Joshua Bell, soprano Larisa Martinez
It’s unclear which Finn, if any at all, Yuja Wang is dating. From my idle observations of her social media accounts, the ones showing up there have never been her (serious) boyfriends.
Yuja is Yuja.
The article appears to be referring to musical pairings.
As far as Yuja is concerned, she plays with many different orchestras and therefore many conductors.
I’d prefer to leave her private life just that.
Yuja Wang seems to protect her personal life from publicity. More power to her. (I wish she were more private in general.)
Wow! All the best to them!
“Yuja Wang and Klaus Mäkelä
Cool pianist with hot young conductor“
Correction: hot pianist with cool conductor
He’s pretty hot…
“11 Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, Vienna opera director Vasily Barkhatov” – Norman, they divorced a couple of years of ago
Klaus and Yuja have been dating for a while. They’re not “officially” a couple but it’s an open secret in the biz.
Might be a smoke screen.
Really?
I hope Mäkelä is drawing the audience that classic music scene desperately wants so that, maybe, compensate how bland and boring he is. I know it is his pr game but I cannot understand why he has become a successor of legendary conductors? What has he showed so far to earn this? Has he shown the vision, personality, deep grasp of music and competence of legendary conductors had from their early ages? Or being young, talented enough, good looking and collaborate with Yuja Wang is enough? Ok then if it brings audience, I guess, to each their own…
Here is a great article says how it is, that popularity doesn’t necessarily bring quality and essence:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/26/looking-past-the-celebrity-conductor
It’s not his fault. Blame the business, the agents, the gullible audiences.
Amen.
Listen, if the only things that mattered were the qualities you listed above, we wouldn’t have a need for live orchestras anymore. Want this business to continue? Give us a concert AND a show.
How to say something just to say anything. Who says there shouldn’t be live concerts and no show? I already mentioned that if he sells tickets, it is ok? What I am saying is, popular ones are not always the best content and he is nowhere near to be legendary at this point, let alone be next Karajan like his PR team presents him. Other than that I wish him and Ms.Wang the best in their shows.
He’s an amazing conductor and also just 26 years old. All he doesn’t need is additional pressure. Come on!
Terrific article and thanks for sharing. Alex Ross is the best — I don’t always agree with him, but his opinions are always grounded and well-stated.
There is no need to read what Alex Ross thinks. One only needs to watch David Hurwitz’s video and they already know what Ross will say in his article. North American critics are a cartel—they lend legitimacy to each other so that they can keep making money. There used to be a bit more diversity in opinions, but now that the whole profession is about to die in their part of the world, they cling to each other tighter than ever before. Their interest is the propagation of the profession of *paid criticism*, not the health, popularity, and longevity of classical music. This is also why they relentless bring up identity agendas and try to push them into programs. It’s designed to polarize and arouse strong emotions, so that internet traffic can be routed *their* way, real traffic to concert halls be damned. In short, their interests no longer align with the interests of classical institutions, artists, and listeners, and the faster they die the better off the rest of us will be.
Bravo kh, that’s exactly what it is.
The critics at the biggest US publications seem to only be interested in drawing attention to themselves by bashing the existence of music and musicians that the masses love. They are the true classical music killers.
Yes! Thank Apollo, the god of music, for David Hurwitz!
Hmm, so boring that one of the world’s best orchestras signed him up immediately (Concertgebouw) and that one of the large recording companies (DECCA) took him under contract as the first conductor in 50 years (last one being Chaily). If that is boring then what is exciting??!!
Viottensamer
Andrenzo
Have you been to his concerts? Thrilling and intense! The audience doesn’t agree with you
You forgot to log-in, Klaus
Yuja’s clock may be getting piu forte. She’s now 35. He’s 26. Nice reversal of the usual scenario!
Have to love No.1. Perennial classics meet perineal panoramics.
Try this from the BBC Proms last summer to see Yuja and Klaus in action
https://youtu.be/n9crd3QyeT4
Video unavailable
This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Universal Music Group
Not only does Payare also lead the San Diego Symphony, but the couple and their children reside in San Diego. Both Payare and Weilerstein exert a strong and vivifying influence on San Diego’s burgeoning musical life. Excuse my local patriotism, but you ought to have mentioned both excellent orchestras that Payare leads.
I don’t get it. Miss Wang has freely stated several times she “likes girls.” Followed by giggles.
Is she not lesbian?
Perhaps she’s… flexible.
In any event, the lovable Yuja deserves love, and it’s her business alone.
This site has become a place for celebrity gossip in the worst British tabloid tradition.
I hope Yuja will soon have the baby she wanted in an interview with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung.