Maestro move: Daniel Harding takes China post
OrchestrasThe high-flying British conductor has agreed to become music director of Youth Music Culture in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, China. The organisation was founded by the all-powerful Chinese conductor Long Yu, who remains chair of its artistic committe.
The music director of YMCG until last year was Yo Yo Ma.
Harding, 47, is a part-time pilot for Air France, except when he is music director of the Swedish Radio Symphony and guest condcuting in Munich, Milan and Berlin.
Guangdong is an odd career move for Harding. It is possibly the least propitious moment in 20 years to take a job in authoritarian China.
Taken together, everything points to a serious midlife crisis.
Curious choice. I thought that he was happy in being a guest conductor everywhere, a little bit like Georges Prêtre in the past. Maybe he will not stay over there 4 months every year.
I live in China – this decision is unfathomable. The only answer must be that they are paying Harding a shedload of money
Well, for three gigs per year it’s not a big deal
Let’s set any China bashing aside for a moment. Could it be that D. Harding just wants to work with a group of serious and ‘driven’ younger folk, eager for musical knowledge? Many conductors liked doing so, including Abbado. They sometimes have more control over the repertoire and programming, too.
‘the least propitious moment in 20 years to take a job in authoritarian China.’
Bit rich coming from you Norman, who’s a visiting professor of shanghai conservatoire.
Goodness gracious, what does he teach?
Not much.
I am saddened to read this news. I have attended almost every concert he conducted with the Stockholm Symphony Orchestra…and like his style. Hopefully, he’ll come back soon.
The extraordinary economic and trade integration between the US and China has been going on for a half century. Why is China suddenly the “enemy?” Arms sales?
Something to do with a repressive and authoritarian government spying intensively on the West, having made us (through very cheap manufacturing costs and subsidies) all highly dependent on its export of consumer goods – just imagine, like Russia did with oil and gas, that supply was restricted or removed. In large parts of the world, countries are in hock to China which has set up and financed huge parts of their infrastructure – so they are in debt and obligation forever… ?
Yes, China is repressive and spies whatever it can in “the West”.
On the other hand, the US, Britain, France and a handful of “Western powers” have trampled over China for the last century and a half, to say the least. And have been spying the beejesus out of China ever since the Chinese regained their sovereignty.
But it seems that spying and meddling with governments all over the world is a God-given privilege only the US and friends can have.
Good luck for mr. Harding.
As if the US doesn’t spy on the rest of the world…
It’s exactly the fail of the economic and trade integration, starting around 2015, that created the current situation. Most media (on both sides) don’t mention the trade talks any more, but instead portrait the crack as a fundamental ideological disagreement, as if it’s some natural sequel to the cold war era. If there’s anything that the western media does well, then this is it. And it’s obvious to see why China felt offended, because the western media is not wrong. Things got worse since the pandemic with more and more people are starting to accept the view, since ‘talk’ between the two sides is no longer a thing
I honestly don’t think Harding would’ve gotten any better appointment than Paris even if he had not suddenly decided to become a commercial pilot. Look at all the big appointments since, to the extent he was a serious contender at all, the better person won the position.
There are only a handful of positions better than Paris and they do not arise all that often. When they do, they go to the latest new firebrand superstar, or senior names. Harding is without doubt a very good conductor. He’s made his mark and done well. Some are maybe not destined for true greatness. Who, of his generation, are?
To be fair, Harding created the very ascension of Makela, by resigning Paris thus allowing Makela to take over and then eventually to springboard over Harding to win the Concertgebouw.
Sometimes, the best way to contain one’s competition is as simple as staying in place and blocking the younger generation from rising too fast.
If Harding resigned Paris in hopes of making himself available to the Concertgebouw, it must hurt to see his successor occupying both.
What are this job’s duties? Did we ever hear about Yo Yo Ma juggling between that, his international career, the Silk Road Project?
Belt and Road, if you please.
It’s certainly a surprise however one thing i’d want to share is that Greater area of Guangdong is perhaps an area with relatively more freedom (politics wise) than other places in China. It is adjacent to HongKong. Many in this area are rich with a business mindset in general and with lots of diversity, e.g. a large population of African heritage.
“relatively more freedom than other places in China”
Yeah, like a cellblock is relatively more free than isolation cells in prison.
People live in strict self-censorship in China, you know exactly what you can and cannot write by electronic means before the police come hauling you, and your family, away.
If I were writing this comment from Hong Kong, I’d be arrested as soon as I hit the send button.
Not that two wrongs ever make a right, but that’s hardly a unique governmental stand on the part of China.
“Relatively” is a valid construct in this context, and attacks on freedom come in various manifestations, not all of them equally oppressive. You do realise that a substantial number of people in the UK who espouse views that offend the establishment or the so-called ‘wokerati’ have been visited by the police to “clarify” what they said, some have had computers seized/searched, and a few have even had assets frozen (Graham Philips) or gone to jail (Craig Murray) on spurious charges. So yes, we practise self-censorship quite a lot here in the UK, too.
Maybe he’s conducting the balloon philharmonic
There’s only one single reason for Harding taking up this position: MONEY.
To take a job like that you’d have to love answering questions of the form, “Why haven’t you spoken out about…?”
Or be clueless that such questions will coming.
Easy answer to that: “I prefer to speak out on issues that I actually have a chance of influencing through our democratic voting process.”
I will never understand the classical music world; here we have a first-class conductor of undeniable skill. HIs recent concert with the Berlin Philharmonic was marvelous. He traversed some very tricky and complex music (Ligeti!) like it was nothing. Clear, precise and finely put together. I’ve heard him live a few times and was always quite impressed at his calm demeanor and thoughtful performances. Why isn’t he as well championed as Dudamel? or several other conductors his age? Is he too quiet and undemonstrative? American orchestras are trying to figure out how to fill some major positions in the next few years. Have they even considered him? Or maybe he doesn’t want to be tied down. I don’t know. He’s not the only conductor who is, or was, pilot. Stay safe, maestro!
Yes, von Karajan flew his own Lear jet.
I have heard Harding several times when he was in Paris : always good concerts but never a triumph ; quiet man ( pilot conducting and it’s better !! ) ; few smiles until the last concert ( he told that he has problems with orchestras of southern Europe ) ; he had recordings with his swedish orchestra , but never in Paris ( musicians were not pleased with that ? ) .
A bad wedding and in Paris we are very lucky : M Franck ; K Makela ….
Interesting, gutsy, exciting, creative move!! And he will be deeply respected. Total cultural immersion in the awakening, booming Pearl River Delta. A very auspicious time to enter the music world there. Despite headline news in the West, Harding could enjoy his work and life here.
Plus: The Guangdong Province / Guangzhou / Hong Kong / Macau metro area has at least 3 international airports into which AF could fly…and AF in Shanghai is a jump away. Good location for this long-haul pilot IF he can manage the road traffic getting around!!.
Nothing as exciting as flying into the old Hong Kong airport, though.
It’s a one week music festival there hosted by Guangzhou Symphony orchestra