Chicago replaces Yuja with, er, a cellist
OrchestrasAfter two days of trying to find a star pianist who could play Bartok’s second concerto and get along with conductor Klaus Mäkelä, the Chicago Symphony simply gave up.
The soloist next week will be cellist Sol Gabetta and the concerto is Shostakovich’s 1st. ‘ Captivating,’ says the blurb, and… electrifying (that’s just the conductor).
Also: Please note: Pianist Yuja Wang, who was scheduled to perform Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on this program, has withdrawn from these concerts.
Gabetta is a fine fine cellist. Looking forward to this concert.
This cancellation was another leak. I wonder where all the CSO leaks come from.
Mäkelä’s agents.
This is not a surprise at all: Bartók 2nd Piano Concerto is not in the standard repertoire of many, many top-level pianists. They would or will usually only take time to learn it if they were or are presented with the option/offers of playing it in multiple locations, in several performances.
So Gabetta is a superb cellist: too bad she will not be performing the more infrequently heard 2nd Cello Concerto of Shostakovich, of which she also made a commercial recording, released in 2008.
Then again, far less conductors of “stature” like Mäkelä even have this 2nd Concerto in their repertoire.
Yuja recently changed her Detroit Symphony program from the Bartok 2 to the easier Beethoven 4. Beyond the falling out with Makela, I wonder if she’s having some separate issues with that piece.
Yuja gave some fantastic performances of the Buttock 2d concerto three or four years ago! No problem for her! Probably worse for the cundoctor.
Yuja has played the Bartok before.
She switched from Bartok to Prokofiev in Minnesota last week.
I’ll be there Thursday evening.
That’s a great photo to illustrate the article: “ta da, it’s me”
Yuja’s lost is another soloist’s gain.
Sol Gabetta is everybit the star cellist to Yuja Wang’s star pianist (except she couldn’t get away wearing what Yuja wears while playing the cello).
Mäkelä will never find another pianist able to play Bartók’s 2nd as well as Wang.
Sol Gabetta is an amazing performer and is a great addition to the program.
Is this Gabetta’s debut with Chicago? I can’t find anything on google. Hard to believe.
They should have hired the Jussen brothers, Lucas and Arthur.
They could probably manage if every one of them would play one hand of the piano part with two.
A sample of n=1 is never wise, but the Jussens’ performance of Schubert’s Fantasie in F-minor, as seen on YouTube, makes a strong argument why no one under 40 should be allowed to go near that masterwork. To my ears, the Jussens completely missed it.
Incredible technique is never a substitute for wisdom.
That said, I would not be opposed to hearing them live. They’re certainly talented, and in other repertoire perhaps they can deliver worthy music-making. But for sure, not in that Schubert as performed in that concert/performance.
Schubert was 10 years short of 40 when he wrote it. A good thing he didn’t wait for greater wisdom to develop.
Er, what, exactly, is your point?
I’m glad about the change!
Good! Maybe the focus can be on the music for once.
Amen.
very hard piece to play.
the best record of the work
is by Geza Anda.
i also saw him live in 60s.
one of the greatest pianists
ever.
Zoltan Kocsis’s performance is not chopped liver, either. (And his performance of the Bartok first concerto is unsurpassed, in my opinion.)
I am planning to go to her concert with Klaus in Cleveland next month. seems like a good chance she’ll be replaced by a clarinet.
Yes, I wonder what will happen with the Cleveland YW concerts! The Ravel left hand thingy is something very many pianists know, right?–but what about the Stravinsky concerto for piano and winds, which I’d love to hear? I purchased a ticket and hotel accomodations a month ago, and will travel from Buffalo by Greyhound. In any case, I’ll get to see the Cleveland art museum; and totally was pleased by my recent trip to NYC to see Hilary Hahn play Prokofiev, and visit art museum (except for the return Amtrak ride inside a bizzard).
If these reports are accurate, in my opinion it is despicable that the CSO for two days knew about the cancellation but left Yuja’s picture on the website in the hope of selling a few more tickets and raising a few more bucks riding on her name star power while deceiving ticket buyers.
Yet another instance where this organization has acted in unacceptable ways, like we have read so many times on this blog.
Even these concerts with the star conductor Makela – supposedly their new music director – are not sold out, there’s plenty of seats available. This speaks louder than anything else about how low the CSO has fallen.
You are generous in that you think they knew for only two days. They probably knew for longer than that.
In my experience, tickets to concerts involving cancellations of performers are entirely refundable.
I’d have no reason to request a refund, the second half is Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony which, to me, is worth the price of admission
Like it or not, this is standard practice. Orchestras won’t announce cancellations until they have a replacement to stop people from prematurely asking for refunds. Nothing to do with the CSO or Klaus or Yuja specifically.
Star is a pretty strong word. I’ll bet you nobody will even know who Klaus or Yuja are in 25 years. They’re mostly just on the young side and attractive
Bring back the Italian Stallone
And…so what?
Oh yes, yes!! Yuja is out!! But let’s demystify this entire episode and put the gossipers to rest!
My best guess is – Yuja and Klaus did not break up and this is just a lovers’ fight! What must have happened is someone – I don’t know who – must have told Yuja about how CSO music directors spend their post rehearsal hours, or morning pre-concerts, or ‘free days’ (which are very busy and full of gratifying non musical activities I tell you) according to the special benefits that Muti enjoyed, with the compliments of Alexander. A young girl, very much in love, would never accept such a thing!
Klaus will explain to her that he, with his newly invested powers, will cancel the “Muti free time protocol” – if we may be forgiven the expression as we don’t quite know how to call it. They’ll kiss and make up, and will be back on the circuit soon, more in love than before!!
My guess is that Yuja is just overworked or ill from all the concerts she gave the past months and needs time to recuperate
Well you may have to keep the “free time protocal” since Mäkelä is apparently not that different from Muti.
She is the talent…he is just conductor candy!
“electrifying (that’s just the conductor)”
Funny that’s how the NYT described Gabetta: “Review: Two Electric Debuts at the New York Philharmonic. An exciting program featured the conductor Elim Chan and the cellist Sol Gabetta in a pairing of music by Martinu and Rimsky-Korsakov.”
So much electricity, your hair will stand on ends.
Well, the CSO never described anyone as electrifying, not even Muti, so that’s a sure sign Makela will be named their next music director come April.
Yikes…
He is a boy in a conductors’ world!
I’m confused, do you not believe Sol Gabetta to be a good cellist? I’d have preferred Yuja but the Shostakovich is certainly an enjoyable listen.
Her recording of the Boccherini concerto #10 is delightful. It’s on a DECCA set that is otherwise Baroque voice / cello items with Cecilia Bartoli.
Now if they can replace the conductor too.
Amen
Sol is amazing. Her Martinu at NY Phil was ridiculous. This is not a downgrade in any possible way.
If a musician withdraws for reasons other than health, or a death or life threatening illness in the family, they should be fined.
They normally are. Most contracts will state that if they withdraw for reasons within their control, they must pay the amount that would have been their fee to the orchestra.
I would venture to say that their not getting paid for not performing is punishment enough (as is their knowing they’ve disappointed multiple audience members).
Chicago audience is very fortunate to have Sol Gabetta in town. Wish I could hear their collaboration!
Awwww can’t play cause they broke up. Lame and so unprofessional
If what I hear last night is even partly truth then this responder will regret their words
Very strange not one single pianist would like to cut the Easter holiday short to work with the greatest conductor of our time!
Oh, is Zubin coming?
Why did Yuji Wang withdraw? Was it because of a confrontation with the conductor?
Nobody has asked or gotten a response, it seems, and the CSO statement didn’t give a reason, leaving open the door to speculation. Bad public relations if you ask me.
It’s a sorry state of the current generation of top pianists that so few of them can perform Bartok’s second concerto. Recently in Hamburg, Igor Levit was supposed to perform all three concertos in three different concerts with Alan Gilbert and the NDR Orchestra. In the end, Levit underestimated the difficulty of the works and ended up performing the third concerto three times.
Yuja has played the concerto several times before.
I have heard from two somewhat trustworthy sources that Esteban (principal trp) may/will be leaving at the end of the year.
Why? He won’t make more money elsewhere and it seemed like he was beyond thrilled to be appointed to that famous chair. Hope he stays. Phenomenal player with his own sound but also a style akin to Bud Herseth.
Why?
That’s a splendid replacement if you want to hear this fine piece.
A good enough substitution for me.
Don’t these people have contracts?
What does er mean?
I think it’s an anglicism of uh.
“er
Class of word: interjection
Pronunciation: ˈə, usually with prolonged vowel ˈä, nonstandard ˈər
Meaning: used to express hesitation”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/er
“er” often expresses uncertainty, disbelief, or bewilderment, like saying “what?”
Translation: CHICAGO REPLACES YUJA WITH, WHAT?, A CELLIST?!
Good pick.
“… get along with Klaus…”? Is there a story behind that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP6tAYcipzM Yuja knows the piece, so I think something else must be going on. Probably sickness or overworked. Don’t think she will be so unprofessional to cancel due to personal reasons to do with Klaus………
Thibaudet is subbing the following week.
Too bad Yuja won’t be playing the Bartok 2. Its U.S. premiere was in Chicago in 1939.
Heard Sol Gabetta many times in L.A. No complaints.
Sol is amazing. Hence, a very nice switch I wish I could be there to hear her in person.
And she gave a brilliant performance. I saw the rehearsal as well as last night’s performance – which included a magical encore.
Fine by me. Let’s face it, you can’t find too many audience members who are that passionate about Bartok 2 anyway lol
Too bad that. It is a first rate work, one of Bartok’s best. They should be excited, assuming it is well played, which is likely with her. Not so sure on Klaus. On the other hand, you see a dozen or more piano concertos for every cello, so maybe just as well.
It has got to be the worst aspect of celebrity, to have every move, every comment subjected to salacious rumor.
Yes! This “story” is snide and unfair. It suggests Makela is hard to get along with, and has no further explanation. Unprofessional at best.
I was only surprose that Jeremy Denk (NY), wasn’t invote to replace Yuja as he’s plo’ the Buttock 2d, but ice pose dates and availability play their rôle….
Yuja wang and Klaus were a couple but they broke up recently . that’s why they found someone else
Plenty of well-known pianists play Bartok #2 – but that doesn’t mean that any of them just happen to be available on one week’s notice – and, even if they are, that they can revive this difficult piece into their fingers within a week.