Just in: Yannick backs Salonen
OrchestrasThe music director of the Metropolitan Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra has thrown his stick into the fire surrounding the departure of Esa-Pekka Salonen from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
Yannick Nezet-Seguin tweeted: SF Symphony Board: Retain Esa-Pekka Salonen, Invest in the Symphony! and linked to a musician petition calling for the SF board to rehire the Finn.
The petition has, so far, 4,500 signatures.
Is this the start of a wave of maestro solidarity?
You can find the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/sf-symphony-board-retain-esa-pekka-salonen-invest-in-the-symphony
Also they’re called the “San Francisco Symphony”, not the “San Francisco Orchestra”.
Yannick may need similar support in the future.
I don’t know about the Met, but I sense that the Philly management would be happy to have him for as long as he’s willing to stay. I believe he’s already signed through 2030. As for me, I wouldn’t mind a change and hope he goes no longer than that if for no other reason than to avoid staleness. They seem to be building a nice relationship with Tugan Sokhiev.
Philadelphia is making the same mistake it made with Muti: acting as if the music director is the Orchestra and when he leaves the Orchestra will cease to exist. Really not good long-term thinking. Sokhiev has been impressive in his visits; he and Luisi are the only guests I’ve heard who make the Orchestra sound like itself, much more so than Yannick.
After that Forza, sooner rather than later LOL
I doubt it. Yannick is the most popular, talented conductor today. The Salonen controversy is shameful. How many Yannick concerts have you attended? None most likely
The most talented about picking tacky clothes for sure. I still cannot understand why he picked Giulini as his role model being so far from him. He s supposed to cultivate and enrich Philadelphia sound.. .where is it gone???
Not. Yannick is not on this messianic mission for modern music.
I think Yannik is a great conductor, but he has to choose between the Met or Philly. And he should mind his own business about SF.
Didn’t Salonen quit?
Yes he quit, citing not having the support of the board to pursue his artistic vision. If the board were to change their mind, it is presumed that he would consider another multi-year contract. If not, he will still occasionally conduct in San Francisco as a guest, but there would be no one left with artistic vision at the helm of the company, only the administration and board which has been pushing for organizational cuts.
Yep. I wouldn’t go back if I were him.
My thoughts exactly. How can the Board “rehire” him if it never “fired” him?
well, yes. I mean, technically, he said he wouldn’t renew his contract after the 24-25 season…but, yeah, he wasn’t fired, you hit the nail on the head.
He didn’t quit. Just announced that he was not interested in renewing his contract after 2025. That’a big difference.
Signatures are easy, finances are hard.
San Francisco WAS…once a magnificent city. We used to refer to it as – The City! Now ..full of mentally ill and addicted. “Unsheltered” Persons, and Silicon Valley brats, and posers, the citys dismisal of one of the world’s True Maverick Conductors is tell-tale indicator of San Francisco’s inexorable Decline! Essa should wipe the SF Poop of his shoe, and go to more worthy city that will fully honor and appreciate him!
Wudya mean Re-Hire?
He wasn’t fired.
He doesn’t WANT to come back.
The function of the board is to raise money for the endowment and operating expenses. When they fail in their duties, the encroach on artistic duties but they are not qualified to do so. This is a great loss for the orchestra and community.
Salonen is one of best in the world!
This is exactly right Roger, the board doesn’t even understand their own assignment or responsibility. As you state; now they are meddling in the artistic process when they think that Charlie Brown’s Christmas is the most interesting thing in the San Francisco symphonies entire season.
I don’t blame Salonen one bit for his decision. Recently the board, not the artistic team, vetoed a large symphony and insisted that Salonen program something more standard for cost reasons. What self respecting director would feel they are a director under such philistine hegemony?
How does YNS juggle his two full time jobs?
They’re within a short train ride; it’s not like he’s constantly crossing the Atlantic.
Make that a Limo Ride.
Bravo!
Clowns of a feather.
They might have more orchestras to conduct if each one didn’t monopolize two or three or four or five.
Hopefully Yannick and ALL conductors have had a chance to read the release from the SFSO today. Time to get real, folks!
YAY!
Perhaps he’d like to go too.
Salonen will be with the Philadelphia Orchestra for two weeks, beginning the second May weekend. The two sets of concerts to include two of his concertante compositions – one for Clarinet and Strings, the other for Organ and Orchestra. Stucky opens the first week; Sibelius Fifth closes. Saariaho opens week two, and the complete Daphnis and Chloe closes. Two great programs. Can’t wait for this!