Estonian is new Paris conductor

Estonian is new Paris conductor

News

norman lebrecht

September 20, 2023

Kristiina Poska has been named music director of the French Youth Orchestra from 2025.

She succeeds Michael Schønwandt and will continue her job at the symphony orchestra of Flanders.

Comments

  • ElCantordelaplata says:

    Completely unknown in France….The drop in level is vertiginous…

    • Jonathan says:

      Completely unknown in France? Really? Strange as I have a cd in front of me with her conducting the premiere of Dusapin’s ‘Outscape’ with the Orchestre National de France. Anyway, what is the point you are trying to make? That unless someone is not well known in France they can’t be any good? Unless you personally have heard of someone they can’t possibly be any good? Have you worked with her? Attended one of her concerts? Do you know anything about her?

    • François Lekeu says:

      Hmmm… what a strange comment. Maestra Poska has been conducting most French orchestras in the last few years, she has been recording for Alpha and Mirare (diapason d’or), she has been performing at the festival Présences (highly acclaimed) …. Etc etc… What planet are you from? And because YOU don’t know a person does it mean there is ‘a drop in level’? Inform yourself please.

  • Jean Vandenberghe says:

    Merveilleuse nouvelle pour l’orchestre français des jeunes ! C’est une chef d’orchestre qui a de la profondeur, de l’énergie et beaucoup de musicalité. Je la suis depuis longtemps. Si vous ne la connaissez pas, découvrez-la !

  • Elcantordelaplate says:

    Let’s face it, if she’s conducted a contemporary music series with the National de France, that doesn’t make for a general’s CV for this job at the OFJ. The recording you’re talking about is live, not studio… Look at the names of former OFJ chiefs conductors, you are able to understand that this is a big drop in level….
    The new general director of the OFJ has no experience in the orchestral world and no address book. In French, there’s an expression “racler les fonds de tiroirs”.

    • François Lekeu says:

      Ok, it is clear that you – hiding behind some kind of artist name (??) – have absolutely no idea and knowledge about the current field of classical music. Kristiina Poska had been a prize winner of many important competitions, she has an amazing international career (have a look at her website: Staatsoper Berlin, Norwegian Opera, Hallé, Royal Scottish, Rotterdam, Radio France, Stavanger, NHK…), with her own orchestra she has been developing many projects for young people (for example she has founded a youth orchestra within the frame of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra)… So, what are you talking about exactly? Have you worked with her? Why would she not be up to level? I feel a lot of personal frustration. Pity… And indeed, she is building an amazing career but she is not a dinosaur yet… maybe that’s your problem? In any case, you have no hood reasons to write what you write.

      • ElCantordelaplata says:

        Let’s be serious, she’s a category B or C conductor….As for the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, it’s the smallest orchestra in Belgium. Admittedly, it’s a valiant orchestra with a genuine public service mission, but it’s not a European-class orchestra, and so its musical direction is not a very prestigious position. It’s not the Antwerp Symphony or the Brussels Phiharmonic. Listen to his recording of Beethoven’s symphonies, which has no musical interest whatsoever.
        As for the OFJ, it suffers from a serious lack of visibility, it doesn’t performs in France’s major concert halls (except for the December session at the Philharmonie in Paris), and so it’s not a B-rank conductor that’s going to help them to go through a turning point…

        • François Lekeu says:

          You seem totally frustrated. You have no arguments whatsoever. All the proof speaks against what you say. Just grow up, stop thinking in old rediculous categories (A, B, C…) come out of your narrow comfort zone and discover the world. Go and listen to concerts live, stop comparing. Judge (if necessary at all) based upon experience and serious knowledge, talk to musicians, orchestra managers, festival organizers. Open your eyes. Discussion finished.

    • Jonathan says:

      In the last year she has worked with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Berner Symfonieorchester, The Royal Danish Opera, Orchestre National de France, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian National Opera, Orchestre National Capitol Toulouse, and forthcoming dates with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Staatsoper Berlin, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. All this as well as with her own orchestra the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen. ‘No experience with the orchestral world’? Please, grow up or go and troll elsewhere.

    • Dirigentin says:

      Just another guy who can’t accept that women can be conductors

  • Pierre says:

    I agree entirely with Cantor…it’s not an exciting appointment…

  • Blablabla says:

    The Orchestre français des jeunes (OFJ) is in residency in Dijon, not in Paris

    https://lalettredumusicien.fr/article/orchestre-francais-des-jeunes-a-nouvelle-maison-nouveaux-enjeux-8016

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