Just in: Israel Phil gets a new boss (and Gergiev)

The protracted process of shuffling Avi Shoshani into the Mediterranean sunset ended finally today with the appointment of his successor.

The new CEO of the Israel Philharmonic will be Yair Mashiach, presently manager of the Haifa Symphony (where Yoel Levi is the conductor).

The choice of artistic administrator is rather more controversial.

Alisa Meves is on her way to Israel from St Petersburg where she has worked for three decades as personal assistant to Valery Gergiev. Is that a good call? She has all the experience in the world, but Gergeiv is an international pariah over his support for Putin’s wars. Alisa will keep him in the loop at the Israel Phil and possibly try to find him a way back in. This could be interesting.

She is seen in the picture below with Gergiev and the composer Rodion Shchedrin three days before Putin’s invastion of Ukraine.