Mallwitz misses TV stardom
NewsThe much-discussed Berlin conductor Joanna Mallwitz has pulled out of a bicentennial performance of Beethoven’s ninth symphony in Vienna next Tuesday, citing ill-health.
She was due to conduct the finale of the symphony in a performance by four orchestras with star conductors, to be broadcast live on Arte-TV.
She will be replaced by the Vienna Symphony’s chief conductor Petr Popelka.
Here’s the revised lineup:
From 9:35 p.m. on TV and on arte.tv:
Ludwig van Beethoven: 9th Symphony Leipzig, Paris, Milan, Vienna
1st movement from the Leipzig Gewandhaus / Musical direction: Andris Nelsons
2nd movement from the Philharmonie de Paris / Musical direction: Klaus Mäkelä
3rd movement from La Scala in Milan / Musical direction: Riccardo Chailly
4th movement from the Vienna Konzerthaus / Musical direction: Petr Popelka
The project is a European co-production between ARTE and its partner broadcasters MDR, RAI and ORF 3.
She’s already a star in her own mind.
Well, based on one concert I heard Maestra Mallwitz conduct in Boston, I’ll say there is no other conductor of her generation I’ve heard live in person or watched live online who has impressed me as much (and that includes Makela, Shani, Mirga, and Rouvali among others). I really look forward to hearing more from Joanna Mallwitz.
Splitting a symphony up in such a way serves no meaningful artistic goal. It is just a circus which shows openly what a total circus the profession of music has become and a ridiculous waste of money on the part of the organisations concerned.
I unreservedly agree.
It brings, however, fond memories of a similar pan-European project from March 1985. Back then they marked three tercentenary of J S Bach’s birth by presenting Art of the Fugue as a multi-nation collaboration every nation performing a different section. In my mind it showcased the work’s abstract nature. My younger self was moved. My now older self might have reacted no differently.
So the weak link left?
I caught a video clip of her conducting the finale of Beethoven 7, took a while to figure out that it was in fact a rehearsal real time a-v recording, as in all honesty it looked like an actor [actress?] imitating an conductor in front of a group asked to be unwilling. Regrets.
What’s the point? Oh, sorry: we’ve got so used to ‘classical’ radio stations only playing one movement of a symphony in case we get bored and need to go on Instagram that 10-15 minutes’ attention is all we’re considered able to endure. Still, I am reminded of Ann Robinson’s famous line…
What, Harding was unavailable?
She should have been replaced by Mäkelä, it’s his forte to conduct multiple orchestras, there’s enough time during the third movement to fly from Paris to Vienna (by helicopter to/from airports), and if Chailly took a very slow tempo.
Obviously you are being sarcastic, but here is a real story: Garrick Ohlson once played the first concertos by both Chopin and Brahms at two different locations in New Jersey, due to a mix up from CAMI.
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/16/arts/music/fastest-way-from-chopin-to-brahms-a-getaway-car.html
The artistry of playing piano concertos should not be compared to the “artistry” that some call conducting.
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They should have let Paavo do the complete symphony in one place rather than to produce a cocktail of mediocrity.
Three great orchestras with great conductors and… with or without the jump-in.
Saw her conduct Cosi at Salzburg. Decidedly decent, competent, average.
That aside, is the full symphony being performed in each of the four locations and just one movement transmitted from each?
I see a tattoo on her arm, which is not only repugnant, it’s an insult to the musicians and audiences. She should not be on any podium.