Sad news: Yuri Temirkanov has died
RIPThe St Petersburg Philharmonic has reported on its website the death of its long-serving chief conductor Yuri Temirkanov. He was 84.
Naturally gifted, he rose swiftly through the Soviet system, becoming music director of the Kirov (now Mariinsky) Opera in 1976. A dozen years later he moved over to become chief of the Leningrad Philharmonic.
Temirkanov swore to me once that he never played politics and never joined the Communist Party. His father, however, had been head of culture in South Ossetia and a close female friend held a similar post in Leningrad. He also maintained good relations with his upcoming younger rivals, Mariss Jansons and Valery Gergiev.
After the collapse of Communism, Temirkanov took a position as principal conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, 1992-98, and became music director of the Baltimore Symphony (2000-2006). In latter years he loved spending time in Oxford.
He retired from conducting in February 2022.
What a great loss. he was a real gentleman at the conductor’s desk.
His recordings of Rach Symphony 2 are top draw, matching the ebb and flow of Svetlanov and Otaka.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-ywFXdeI_w&t=543s
Thanks very much for the link. It was wonderful
The best.
A wonderful conductor. My condolences to his family and friends.
I only heard YT live twice, once in Boston and once at Tanglewood (in a VERY memorable performance of Sibelius’ 2nd symphony), but YT’s concerts were genuine and memorable, with real music-making. I always thought he was the real deal. [In contrast to some other well-known Russian conductors who perhaps had more marquee value – and yes, that means VG and VS.]
For me, the two living Russian conductors I had the pleasure to hear whose work I thought was outstanding were Temirkanov and Rozhdestvensky.
Agreed – I would also add Vladimir Jurowski.
In my previous comment I meant Vladimir Jurowski in terms of outstanding Russian conductors, and NOT in terms of Russian conductors who had “marquee value”.
Saw him conducting The Right of Spring and Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano at The Sage Gateshead. Exceptional
To excercise my rite of reply; was the other part Left out?
In memory…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbFOvPZxcCc
This is very sad news. Maestro Temirkanov was undoubtedly one of the greatest of Russian conductors, and he will be sorely missed. He led the St Petersburg Philharmonic with distinction and absolute commitment, as is evident in the many recordings they made together. He and his orchestra appeared at the Proms in 2015, and the programme included a beautifully realised performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations, a work he was particularly fond of. RIP Sir, and thank you.
Very sad. When I was exploring classical music as a teenager living in Birmingham the visits of Temirkanov and Zdenek Macal, who also died recently, were much anticipated. We also had Simon Rattle newly installed with the CBSO. It was a good time to be learning.
I didn’t hear about Macal, was it reported here?
So sad. I first heard of him with that magnificent reading of the Rachmaninoff 2nd on EMI some 50 years ago. I’ve enjoyed many of his recordings since: a splendid Scheherazade from NY, a superb Tchaikovsky symphony cycle, some terrific Shostakovich. I only got to hear him live once, sorry to say. RIP.
There were many excellent concerts in Baltimore as well. (A shame the orchestra was not recorded under his baton.) Are there any genuine “romantic” conductors left?
Many fond memories of concerts in California, both with San Francisco and with St. Petersburg. Elgar Enigma, Rachmaninoff 2, Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, and Ravel Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2 all come to mind. And the only time I’ve ever hear the Russian Easter Festival Overture live — SFS just about blew the roof off of Davies Hall. Deep appreciation for some great musical experiences. We’ll miss you, Maestro Temirkanov.
I remember performing The Planets with him in Moscow and Leningrad back in 1984(?). Fabulous.
R.I.P. wizard
R.I.P., but 84 seems like a good age to go after a well-lived life.
A very fine conductor indeed. I shall relish his performances with the BSO, especially a magnificent Shostakovich 10. He also brought his St. Petersburg Orchestra to the DC area for a wonderful Rach 2 during a snow storm! The BSO has remained a fine orchestra but not quite the one under Temirkanov or Zinman. RIP Maestro
I remember seeing him in Baltimore in 2001, with Yevgeny Kissin playing Brahms 2 and Ein Heldenleben on the second half. Fine an orchestra as Baltimore was then (and is now), I’m pretty sure Kissin came only for Temirkanov. The only time I’ve seen either of them live; Temirkanov never came to Moscow when I lived there.
You are correct – Kissin agreed to play with the Baltimore Symphony because of Temirkanov. And the great Temirkanov might have stayed in Baltimore beyond 6 seasons if the BSO hadn’t appointed a nincompoop GM (James Glicker) whose stupidity Temirkanov had already experienced at BMG-RCA. Temirkanov wasn’t about to give Glicker a 2nd chance, and quickly bailed out! Glicker then hired Marin Alsop – without bothering to consult with the orchestra’s members. Needless to say, he was soon ousted – both from the BSO, and from the music business.
Somehow I don’t own many recordings by this conductor–no particular reason why–but, among my multiple collections of the complete Tchaikovsky symphonies, I value his with the RPO. It’s a bit idiosyncratic (that’s not a criticism) in an “I never realised that passage or motif might be phrased like that” kind of way, very personal, consistently interesting. Obviously I still need to do more Temirkanov exploring.
It’s time for Sony/RCA to put together a budget box of all of his recordings – the great, the good, and a few duds. And EMI, too!
As a teenager I saw him conduct both Scheherazade AND Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique(in the same concert no less) back in the mid ‘70s. He made a profound impression. This is very sad news indeed. Conductors of his caliber are fast disappearing.
R.I.P. … I had the pleasure of seeing him conduct twice live – both times with the Philadelphia – and both concerts features great performances that I’ll always cherish – of Shostakovich’s 7th and Brahms 2nd symphonies.
I worked with him many times. He was a fine example of economy and further proof to me that, as far as the rostrum is concerned, genuine talent is almost always inversely proportional to loquaciousness. RIP.
He was always a welcome guest conductor in Philadelphia in the 1970s – when the Soviet authorities would allow him to come. The audience knew they were going to get a wonderful concert. RIP.
The three times I worked with him were high points in my life.
Virtually no words needed in rehearsal, just intense musical integrity and the clearest gesture.
I worked with him in the 80s in Italy.. You’re right, his musicality, his gestures were sublime. He did an encore with his hands folded behind his back, directed everything from his head — it was gorgeous. (A colleague who had an affair with him raved about him … 😉 )
I was a real fan. Heard him leading Tchaik 5th with Leningrad Phil at the LA Music center back in the 80s or 90s. To say he was channeling Mravinsky would do a disservice to his own genius, but the connection was so strong.
Back in 90s- early 2000, he often toured with St Petersbourg Phil all over the place, including smaller stops like Taiwan (possibly due to financial reason). As a student, I heard him many times back home. One performance I will never forget; it was him guest conducting Taipei Philharmonic, which was, with respect, not the top one orchestra even in Taiwan. It was Tchaikovsky fifth, and I walked out the concert almost shaking. Not only that he made a sound totally different from before, but the intensity and passion from the orchestra members. A true artist.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
They threw away the mold! There will never be another Temirkanov.
I remember vividly a concert in 2012 featuring Temirkanov conducting the St Petersburg Philharmonic, the programme comprising the Prokofiev 1st violin concerto (with Maxim Vengerov as soloist) and the Shostakovich 7th symphony. The discipline of the orchestra was evident from the outset, the players entering the stage with an almost military precision and gravitas (in stark contrast to the wont of London orchestras then and now for a much more casual demeanour when it comes to that crucial moment of stagecraft), and the orchestra’s sound manifested a corresponding blend and unity of purpose (despite the names in the programme showing that the orchestra had hired several local extras for the massive brass section required in the Shostakovich), with a wonderful clarity and balance that explored the full range of dynamics, with some magical moments of breathtaking elegance that conveyed the subtle and sophisticated textures with apparent effortlessness. (Fortuitously, it was only a few weeks after the serious amateur orchestra in which I then played had performed the same repertoire, so I knew perfectly well that the works are not effortless to play.) The concert concluded with “Nimrod”, projected with a most remarkable pianissimo and sublime intensity that dispelled instantly the briefest moment of (silent) levity upon realising that a Russian orchestra was about to perform that most quintessentially English of works as an encore in London — to this day, it is the greatest performance of “Nimrod” that I have heard.
Agree with much that has been written here but let’s also not forget, in 2016, he told the Baltimore Sun:
““Women can be conductors. I am not against them conducting. But I simply don’t like it. There are women boxing and weightlifting; they can do that. But I don’t like watching. It is only my taste. We all have different tastes. For example, I don’t eat fish.”
Not his most enlightened moment.
Certainly not but I happen to totally agree.
The passing of one of our great conductors, I was fortunate enough to hear him live with St Petersburg a few times as well as perform in a Mozart Requiem conducted by him. A true master, sparse on words and gestures but absolutely delivered the goods every time.
Yuri was an extraordinary musician. A couple of hand gestures and one knew what he wanted. Extremely respected by us musicians everywhere. Won’t go into details regarding a myriad of wonderful rehearsals. Genius of a man who had orchestral ladies swooning…even the cynical ones!
There seems to be a huge amount of amateur concert goers commenting here – interesting, but you are not musicians. Only outside, looking in.
Well it’s nice to read this outpouring of admiration by all and sundry in SD for a truly great Russian conductor…… in the 1980’s he was always accompanied in rehearsals by a young woman who sat at his feet and translated from Russian to English if needed but he would mime a man smoking a cigarette when an orchestral tea break was needed. A man of few words but great style.
I’ve found that those “amateur concertgoers” often have a better grasp of the quality of a performance than many of the musicians who are actually taking part in it.
Without an audience you’d have no paid work as a musician.
One doesn’t have to be a professional musician to be an accomplished musician or to have an appreciation for classical music.
This is an enormous loss not only professionally but personally. I first met Yuri when he conducted my husband in a performance of Beethoven 3 with the RPO in 1982. Since then they have worked together scores of times not only in London but in Moscow, St Petersburg, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore etc and they’ve always been wonderful and warm collaborations. He was not only a great conductor but a lovely and funny man and the world will be a less colourful place without him.
Mi sento orfana.
Grazie, Maestro Temirkanov, per avermi diretta, incantata, in un meraviglioso “Eugen Onegin”, uno dei più bel concerti nella mia carriera.
Non era cantare, era volare…
Riposi in pace.
I feel myself now orphan.
Thank you, Maestro Temirkanov, for having been my conductor in a magnificent “Eugen Onegin”, one of the most impressive concerts in my career.
It was no singing, it was like flying…
A truly superb conductor and a great loss.
Thanks for this Manfred he didn’t record officially. An old school conductor, quite independent in musical world. I heard him conduct many times at dry theatre des champs Elysées. He wasn’t a spectacular man like Karajan or Bernstein but he maintained musical integrity of Leningrad Phil in difficult times. I wonder what were his relationship with Mravinsky or politics….I remember at one concert the atmosphere was tensed and he was obviously not happy with the orchestra… I remember an amazing Tchaikovsky concerto with Lazar Berman or a great Chostakovitch 10 th live on Russian disc I think….his legacy on record was not always fully convincing especially in studio, like his Tchaikovsky cycle with RPO. Like Svetlanov, he didn’t like to be stuck in Russian music only and I remember a very good Eroica. Well he was around since I began to be fond of classical and now he s gone. May he rest in peace and his legacy remains.
A sad loss. A miracle that he survived as well as he did given that he lived life to the full! A kind colleague and friend, and a fine musician.