Another composer gets promoted to conductor
OrchestrasFollowing Mathias Pintscher’s surprise appointment in Kansas City, his composer colleague Jörg Widmann has been named principal guest conductor at the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hannover.
Widmann, 49, will also serve next season as Composer in Residence at the Berlin Philharmonic.
Jörg Widmann is a great clarinettist and a very, very interesting composer. I am sure he can do as good conducting work as most seasoned conductors.
Having experienced it, I’m not so sure!
Is composer to conductor really a promotion? In fact, Widmann does both, and solos on clarinet. An all-round musician.
What makes Pintscher’s appointment surprising?
Thomas Adès is meant to be a pretty good conductor, too. Not seen (or heard) him, though.