Munich whispers: It could be Israeli
OrchestrasAfter a dazzling concert with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Bavarian is abuzz with rumours that Lahav Shani will be the next conductor of the Munich Philharmonic.
The post has been vacant for 11 months since Valery Gergiev was ousted over his support for Putin’s war.
Here‘s the local kaffee-klatsch.
Word in the business is that the job is Mirga’s to refuse, and two or three others are also in the reckoning.
Shani is presently music director of the Israel Philharmonic and the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Neither wants him to leave.
Kaffee klatsch.Nothing more
He won’t leave the IPO and honesty I think the IPO is the better Orchestra – he will probably do what Makela did with the Concertgebuow – will take the post when he finishes his contract in Rotterdam – 2027
I would say that is a blocker for both the orchestra and Shani’s personal development.
Better for him to stay where he is now.
The Munich post has been cursed since CT.
What does CT stand for? I’d say that it has been cursed since SC (Sergiu Celibidache).
It could be a very good choice. If he wins, I hope that he will have to conduct more composers outside of the classical german repertoir of the XIXe century. It would be interisting to see him conduct the french or nordic repertoir for exemple the german orchestras don’t play enough.
It seems that after Thielemann the orchestra has the tendency to favour conductors who leave them be and are not too demanding…a pity.
Don’t get me wrong, Shani is a fine musician, but he doesn’t have much eye for neither detail, nor interpretations outside the traditions. It’s the kind of „we all know the piece, let’s just do it tonight“-music making, which so many orchestras love, but which seldomly does the great masterpieces justice.
I Don’t agree. I saw many concerts of Shani with the IPO- he really develops to a very fine conductor. He conducted an absolutely magnificent Bruckner 5th with the orchestra earlier this month. There was a consensus in Israel that this was a performance of rare quality.
I was impress in concert by a Tchaikosky 5th he conducted
I imagine consensus of opinion among an Israeli audience is a pretty major achievment!
Munich is truly a fantastic city to live in, which may influence Shani, but he resides in Berlin, which he may prefer…it all depends on which Band comes up with the most Gelt…I hope he stays with the IPO
If he wants, he could stay living in Berlin and take the job in Munich. Remember that Simon Rattle also lives in Berlin (and wants to stay there) and has accepted the post in Munich. The connection between the two cities is pretty good. If I were in his place and got the offer from Munich, I would go from Rotterdam to Munich – not directly, but in 2 years or so, with many guest conducting in the meantime – and keep the job at the IPO. But these are just rumours with some other people in play. We will see.
Or he should be ready for New York in 2028.
He’s fairly recently into two major orchestras. And I’m not sure the Munich Philharmonic is a step up from Rotterdam. I assume Israel Phil might no longer do “conductor for life” but I imagine it’s as much a commitment as a job, and not one he’ll leave anytime soon.
When was the last time you heared munich phil live?
I heared rotterdam in berlin and munich phil in zurich, both in september and both with shani.
Rotterdam was very good, but munich phil was outstanding!!!
“Word in the business is that the job is Mirga’s to refuse”
lol
Regardless whether it is true or not, did you expect to read anything less here?
I think he would be a wonderful choice. Finally a young conductor, who has not yet reached the zenith of his career, and has great potential. After the old Profis, Gergiev, Maazel, Thielemann and Levine he would be a welcome change. His concert in September was well received as was the benefit concert for Ukraine with members of the Philharmonic, the Radio Orchestra and the Opera. He would harmonize well with the fine acoustics of the Isar Philhamonie.
Andres Orozsco Estrada. From Frankfurt to Munich. Possible??
Thielemann was 45 years old when he took over the MP. Just saying…
Lahni is a great conductor. His Heldenleben last Sunday in Rotterdam was much better than Mäkkelä’s Alpine two days before in Brussels with the Concertgebouw. The Finn changed completely the sound of the orchestra. Gone are the warmth and the sumptuousness. Welcome to the sharpness which reminded me of some American orchestras.
They don’t sound that different to me: https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/391a0832-3030-46b3-a01b-67437af89a79/makela-dirigeert-strauss-alpensinfonie