San Fran Symphony sees a new conductor
OrchestrasThere will be an unexpected subscription debut at next weekend’s concerts.
Gemma New, a New Zealander, is stepping in for the Pole Marta Gardolińska.
The program remains:
rażyna Bacewicz – Overture
Edward Elgar – Cello Concerto
Felix Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 3 “Scottish”
Everyone conducting SanFran right now is considered a potential successor to the departing Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Gemma is fantastic. Congrats to her!
Gemma New is fantastic.
If I were running one of the major US orchestras that needs to hire a new MD, I wouldn’t hesitate to put her on the short list.
It’s not unheard-of for orchestras in a music-director search to buy out guest conductors’ weeks so they can make room for a potential candidate. You want to avoid it, because it costs money and everyone can guess what’s going on. That kind of organizational improvisation is likelier to be needed in San Francisco’s case because they weren’t exactly planning to be in a music-director search. Gemma New’s growing reputation suggests she’d be on a list of people who are considered worth that effort.
Is this the same Paul Wells of my youth? Are you a violinist? Where did you go to high school?
Not a good conductor unfortunately…
Load gemmanew.com and scroll down to watch a 2020 New Zealand Symphony concert featuring music of Vaughan Williams, Sibelius, and a recently composed piano concerto. She gives an interesting talk to the audience while the piano is set up behind her. I think you will enjoy the whole program. She should do well with the San Francisco Symphony.
NY Times profiles Marin Alsop today and IMHO she would be a fantastic MD in San Fransisco.
IMHO Marin Alsop is a product of these rather “woke” times (no offense) and an inferior conductor, musically and especially technically. She can give good speeches and talks a lot. On the podium she is just mediocre.
She became principal conductor in Denver in 1993 and Baltimore in 2005. More progressive than previous decades, sure, but certainly not “woke” times.
Watch her attentive, musical, inspiring support of the finalists in the recent Van Clibern Piano Competition. This a tricky gig with international attention, that happens extreme fast. She was essential, guiding the competition to its in inevitable outcome introducing the world to the greatest pianist of this generation.
So in your opinion, when did this mythical woke-ism begin? Alsop (And Faletta) has forged a long, steady, organic rise – like male conductors used to do before Finnish/Latin wunderkind fads became the rage. You can like her or not for real reasons, but silly language invalidates your opinion here.
Please just watch that Rach 3 with Lim. Hopeless.
A few specifics, pointing out instances of “hopeless” conducting or accompanying, would help provide some credibility to the assertion.
Salonen should have extended by one year at least so that the San Francisco Symphony has a bit more maneuver room in searching for the next music director. It is deeply irresponsible of him to leave with only one year’s notice when there is no problem preventing him to work there other than disagreement over money for special projects.
I mean the Polish conductor. Gemma New a fine conductor.
I haven’t looked at who’s coming, but really, everybody?
They should give the job to an American. Someone who knows nothing and gets on-the-job training. Sound familiar?
Is anyone going to want it with the financial mess? Maybe someone can convince Elon Musk to take over, infuse some cash, and eliminate the wokeness? Who are Elon’s favorite composers?
What is your problem with the word “woke”. It’s very inappropriate in this context. It is specifically about African Americans experience in the United States and waking up to a new way of life, equality for all. It doesn’t have anything to do with the San Francisco symphony. They have blind auditions, they hire The best players according to a players committee and then the music director. The results have nothing to do with Fox News or the Ron DeSantis’ meaning of woke. They intend to make white people afraid that people of color are getting their jobs.
It’s just not the case.
You my woke friend are misinformed
I was excited about her, until I saw her live. Unfortunately, she’s one of those conductors stuck in lower tiers for whom you can always point to one particular thing and say ‘this is why he/she can’t break through to the next level’. In her case, and I say that as a very open minded person, her technique is absolutely scary to watch.
Mr. Conductor: I agree. She came to the NSO in DC a couple of years back and conducted Sibelius 5 and VW Variations on Tallis and a new violin concerto. The Sibelius 5 was underwhelming and generic in its interpretation. Almost boring if that is even possible with this magnificent work. An acquaintance in the NSO was not impressed and mentioned some technical deficiencies. I am sure she is a very fine musician but she is no ESP or MTT. The SFO could do better.
I unfortunately agree. Nice person, articulate and kind (I saw her a couple of times in Dallas). Very inefficient when actually conducting.
I would think the LA Phil to be the more likely of the two (which I don’t intend to imply would come to pass). She was twice named Principal Guest Conductor of the DSO while incoming LA Phil CEO Kim Noltemy was head of that orchestra. I wish her continued success and all the best.
Good luck Gemma New.
She is wonderful!
I heard her conduct in Wellington, NZ and in Toronto, CA.
Proposed ad slogan for the SFSO: “Come hear the NEW kid on the block!”
I saw her conduct the Dallas Symphony last season. She was good, and very clear.
I do not agree. I spoke with some DSO musicians and while they liked her when she started as Principal Guest Conductor, lately they disliked her. Too much talking in the rehearsals and bad technique.
It’s “San Francisco” not “SanFran”
Frisco
I was looking forward to hearing Martha Gardolinska again. Her Beethoven #7 with the LA Phil at the Bowl was fantastic. Why did she withdraw?
Played a concert under her baton. She is marvelous.
One of the most overrated and infuriatingly talentless conductors to ever grace the stage. Why she’s conducting so much, I have no idea
Well, I was at one of last weekend’s concerts, and naysayers be damned: it was wonderful. The Mendelssohn symphony crackled with energy. The Bacewicz overture was nicely played, but a bit too short in length to make much of an impression.
The real event of the evening was Ferrández’s performance of the Elgar, which I thought was one of the most deeply felt and expertly played renditions of this war horse concerto I’ve ever encountered. He is an artist who genuinely has something to say and New was on board with his message. I loved it.