Hamburg loves Alan Gilbert

Hamburg loves Alan Gilbert

News

norman lebrecht

February 17, 2023

The last-but-one music director of the New York Philharmonic has been renewed as principal conductor at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie until 2029, a striking vote of confidence.

Alan Gilbert will be past 60 before he leaves. He is also music director of Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm.

Comments

  • PG Vienna says:

    The NDR Hamburg Orchestra is way better than the New York Phil…..

  • MacroV says:

    Their Youtube videos are great. Excellent orchestra, beautiful hall, engaged audience; what’s not to like?

  • Petros Linardos says:

    By 2029 Alan Gilbert will have been with the NDR Elbphilharmonie for 10 years. That’s longer than all his predecessors but Hans-Schmidt Isserstedt (1945-1971).

    All NDR principal conductors have been famous, and mostly first rate, but why have there been generally short?

    • Novagerio says:

      Back in the day, the NDR orchestra was notorious for making the lives of their conductors miserable.

    • Anthony Guterwicz says:

      Because after 10 years we all hate our bosses.

      • Petros Linardos says:

        Two NDR tenures are particularly striking for their brevity: Tennstedt and Blomstedt lasted two seasons in Hamburg, 1979–1981 and 1996–1998. Their names rhyme, and neither have been famous for big egos. What was going on?

    • Hugo Preuß says:

      Günter Wand was with the orchestra for 9 years, and when he resigned at age 80, he still conducted the NDR again and again for his final 10 years.

  • Anon says:

    Alan Gilbert was also renewed for a 2nd term when he was in NY.
    Nearly every major music director of every orchestra is renewed after one term and serves another term.
    It’s only big news when a music director is not renewed for a 2nd term.

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