Breaking: Daniel Barenboim resigns in Berlin
NewsThe 80-year old Barenboim, stricken with a neurological condition, said this morning that he could not fulfil the functions of music director at the Staatsoper under den Linden.
‘Unfortunately, my health has deteriorated significantly in the last year. I can no longer provide the performance that is rightly demanded of a general music director. Therefore, I ask for your understanding that I will give up this activity on January 31, 2023, he said.
Senator for Culture Lederer called Barenboim ‘one of the most remarkable personalities working in Berlin.
Barenboim has been in charge of the state opera since 1992.
He is due to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in a toned-down programme this weekend.
UUPDATE: How Barenboim built Berlin
Inevitable, perhaps. Like him or loathe him, it’s still sad to think that his health has deteriorated to this extent. The maxim ‘if you don’t have your health, you have nothing’ is true indeed. P.S. An edit to correct the spelling of his name in the post heading is in order.
Why would anyone ‘loathe’ this man?
Because he wants peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and that stirs many up against him.
Wise to step down, Maestro. There comes a time to take that most important decision of all: to leave the stage in grace and with dignity. There remains music, of which you have brought us so much which we treasure and without which we would not be the human person we are today. Our task is to put into practice that which has made us a better person thanks to your sharing the Gift Of Music with us.
An integral part of Daniel Barenboim’s legacy will be the Berlin Staatskapelle and Staatsoper. Seeing this great institution thrive without him should be extremely gratifying for Daniel Barehboim.
Thielemann will be named next director unter den Linden, and then he’ll negotiate in earnest with Chicago for a similar post, just as Dudamel is doing with LA and Paris Opera, and as Welser-Möst did with Cleveland and Vienna State Opera.
Whatever his pros and cons, Thielemann has never spreading himself thin. Do you seriously think that in this respect he’ll change in his 60s and beyond?
Music director (whoever it is) of the CSO only requires approximately 11 weeks of concerts, usually spread in to three residencies between September to June. This leaves lots of time for other positions.
Thielemann will do well, for all his issues.
No, every ochestera he was were happy when he leave.
One can only wonder, if DB would in fact step down, hadn’t a succession to his artistic satisfaction already been prepared. We will find out.
He has zero chance in Chicago.
DB needs to take it easy, do whatever is possible for his health and while he’s resting WRITE A BIOGRAPHY! He has a spectacular story to tell. He knew Furtwangler; recorded with Barbirolli; would hang around with Mehta, Zuckerman. Such a rich life in the last 60 years and his bio needs to be preserved. Get well, maestro.
He did! There are two wonderful autobiographical books written by him. The first, published in 1991 A Life in Music gives fascinating insights, not only on his life but on Arthur Rubinstein and Sir John Barbirolli, among others and then Everything is Connected published in 2008 a very thoughtful book about the impact of music on life and his life. Both proudly published by Weidenfeld.
His autobiography has been written. It is called “A Life in Music”. Highly recommended.
He already wrote one a couple of decades ago: “A Life in Music”. All he needs to do is add a couple of chapters for a new edition.
he wrote his autobiography several years ago. maybe he could update it
The best for all parties involved – and, honestly, he should have done so at the end of his previous contract (though better late than never), for his sake and that of the Staatsoper. Now remains to be seen what he’ll do with the Ring in the spring, for which he is still scheduled.
And hopefully, without the administrative burden and the weight of a worldwide top-10 opera house on his shoulders, he’ll be able to continue with the activities where he has most to contribute – teaching, mentoring, guest conducting, etc.
I am extremely grateful to have had him as our Music Director here in Chicago; I learned more from him than I can say. He had an uncanny knack for conjuring sound colors out of the orchestra that communicated what was going on structurally and harmonically in the music. Indeed, there were times when I marveled at the sounds coming out of my own instrument under his baton. He allowed himself to be absurdly overbooked and consequently his results were uneven. Because the resulting flaws in some of his performances were easier to discern than his very subtle strengths, I never thought he was rightly appreciated here.
Very interesting to hear the player’s perspective. I always like to know what the players think of a given conductor. In the late 1980s when the talk about Solti’s possible successors came up, I was a big partisan for Barenboim. (Grew up in Chicago listening to the CSO.) Then when DB finally got the job, I was often not impressed. I didn’t dislike his conducting, but often found it kinda dull and stodgy. Mined you, I also heard him lead brilliant performances, too. BUT I always thought that at a certain point he should have retired his concert pianist spurs and put all his focus into conducting. Juggling the two careers seemed to spread him too thinly, resulting in (I suspect) those stodgy, phoned-in performances.
Anyway, that’s the view from the *audience’s* side of the stage. I would still rather have DB conducting than not conducting, but if his health isn’t up to it, better to dial back. Maybe he will still do some guest conducting, like that upcoming (or recent?) Berlin Phil concert.
Daniel Barenboim is one of the greatest musicians of our time.
A giant pianist and an immense conductor. I’m grateful to have performed both under his baton and with him as solo pianist.
I salute his conducting career in London, Chicago, Milan, Berlin, Bayreuth and his ‘Divan’ Orchestra.
An inspiration for generations to come. Thank you for all your gifts, Maestro.
My favorite pianist.
No one do Beethovens piano concerto no5 in E flat better.
Unfortenly I never had the chance to see him perform live.
“Toned down” program? What better than Schumann and Brahms? I would say toned UP and you can see Saturday and Sunday performances live if you are lucky to have Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall!
Great musicians are lucky because they are eternal, whether healthy or sick! Memorable performances live with us for ever and then we have a wealth of recordings and videos. What ever the great Barenboim manages to do in the future will be a big bonus and he must now take care of himself now so we can have many more encores to be treasured.
Wise decision.And long overdue…he belongs to another time….The institution needs fresh blood.
Hardly – it was his fresh blood that propelled the Staatskapelle, the Staatsoper to its current standing as well as the creation of the West-East Divan Orchestra, Boulezsaal and Boulez Ensemble into being. As Director of the organisations he was far from a remote nominal figurehead but intimately involved with all aspects of the operation at all levels.
Though, one thing I find weird at the Staatsoper is how much it tries to be more than an opera house. In a city that has multiple concert halls, plentiful symphony orchestras, they spend a not-inconsequential amount of their energy putting on symphony concerts, lieder concerts, a chamber music series, baroque concerts, programming a second hall, etc., most of which has no relation to the actual opera programmation. I’m not sure why they have to do these things themselves, rather than with partners who already do these other non-opera activities in a city that has plenty of other musical institutions.
And I still haven’t figured out what happened to the set depot that was replaced by the Boulez Saal and Said Akademie.
Yes,as you say,it “was”…..But now it´s really time for a new leadership.
Dear Daniel Barenboim: Thanks for the countless memories you have given over the years in Berlin and beyond.
I remember him as the upcoming star of the Darlington Music Festival in 1966. He gave piano recitals and masterclasses. The latter in particular were superb and the incisiveness of his criticisms bore comparison with those of Schwarzkopf.
Apparently he has never taken care of his health, which makes his life even that more admirable: an eighty-year-old top drawer musician who has always done what he wanted. Better that than dying pure and bored at 103.
To another time?
Just wondering what exactly is this « neurological condition »?
It was public knowledge that Jacqueline Du Pre suffered Multiple Sclerosis, so why this vague and unspecific mention? Either one doesn’t give any detail ( health problems) or one gets more specific. Initially, by the way, the reports were of a « vascular problem »
Whatever the diagnosis, we all wish Danny a prompt and stable recovery! Attending his Mozart concertos cycle with the ECO in the early 70ies remains one of my most memorable concert experiences.
Probably due to his multiple covid vaccines as it happened all over the world.
The moderator will not appreciate this type of comment,as in other newspapers.
Vaccine mythology is taking a big toll in our lives. Unfortunately, moderators who tolerate this kind of disinformation are a big part of the problem.
Whatever you say!
Tin Foil Hat myths…..
Possibly dementia or Parkinson’s, which can be slowed but not cured. My partner aged 62 has Parkinson’s as do several friends, and it’s tough knowing the progression. Stuart Bedford stopped conducting with the same condition.
His decision may be wise, but I keep praying and hoping he can buck the odds against him. An active musician of his iconic stature is always a benefit to a civilized world regardless of age or if he’s passed the summit of his abilities.
The papers will certainly have their obits ready.
Preparing obituaries ahead of time is standard practice.
Let us hope that Daniel Barenboim may outlive some of his advance obituary writers. There are precedents.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2009/08/how-far-in-advance-do-newspapers-write-obituaries.html
Isn’t most of the music you (presumably) play from “another time”? Maestro Barenboim is a great musician. Who are you? What, of any merit, have you accomplished ? Go away, and stay there.
Strange … Whatever happened to the orchestra members in Berlin who felt Barenboim was a tyrant … or the soloists of the Berlin Staatsoper who dared to cross him and were demonstratively not rehired? If that was not just “background noise” they must be – quietly – rejoicing now and keeping a very, very low profile …