Barenboim gives up more shows
NewsThe Staatsoper Unter den Linden has let it be known that its former music diector has withdrawn from more operas, due to poor health.
Bertrand de Billy will take over Carmen, while Thomas Guggeis will conduct Samson et Dalila, followed by a full Ring cycle in April.
I think outgoing is the right term. He is still our GMD until next Wednesday!
The bemused expression of the cellist at 0:45 says it all about this laboured conducting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cll9JaOum6w
Pitty they couldn’t find an even more student-like conductor for the Ring.
I heard Thielemann the first week in the Berlin RING and Guggeis in the 2nd, Guggeis is VERY much the student compared to the great, and I mean great, Thielemann in this music
You really have nothing better to do with your life, huh?
What does it mean?
Opera is taxing for even a younger, healthier man (or woman). It makes sense.
Is Guggeis the youngest conductor to do a Ring cycle in a single week? (plus a second time in April)
Hard to say. But he’s definitely the worst one to do it in a week
i believe that anton seidl did so in 1879 at the same age as guggeis – i am not sure that it was over a week – but it was over a short period; of course he did not have to refer to the score so much since he was the ring score’s chief copyist
Wasn‘t Leinsdorf 27 when he did it at the Met?
I adore that man as musician and man
The orchestra would sound EXACTLY the same if they played the same thing without him.
About time. Lets recall Haitink’s class act. I saw Guggeis here in Vienna; awkward fellow but excellent conductor and deserving of his meteoric rise. How refreshing…
What class act of Haitink? Just curious.
If that clip is representative of Tom’s tempi, this Ring will take about 24 hours instead of the usual 15.
Learning by doing…
The clip is not representative: Guggeis’ Ring was much more vivid, dramatic and fast, as well as singer-friendly, than slow, pasty and though great Ring of Thielemann. Both were very interesting.