Breaking: Another early-music orchestra sacks conductor for ‘persistent aggression’
NewsWe hear that the Belgian early-music orchestra Anima Eterna has sacked its founder Jos Van Immerseel for ‘persistent aggressive behavior’.
Immerseel, 78, is one of the leaders of the period-instrument movement. He founded the orchestra in 1987 and was regarded, along with John Eliot Gardiner and one or two others as one of the more charismatic figures in a scholarly field. Today, however, the board of his orchestra in Bruges issued a statement that ‘Jos van Immerseel has repeatedly ignored the values he has shared with Anima Eterna for years.’
The statement continues: ‘After numerous fruitless attempts to enable Jos van Immerseel to continue his story with the orchestra and to pass on his knowledge and know-how in a spirit of respect, the board of directors unfortunately sees no other way out than to terminate the working relationship due to persistent aggressive behavior and regular breaches of contractual obligations.’
There has been no immediate response from the conductor.
Gardiner, 81, is presently trying to put together an ensemble that will compete with his former group.
With so many (Gardiner, Roth, et al), it’s time to catalog this under: HIP Replacements
Tragically Hip.
the Replacements.
Two great bands, Nice!!
Gerry gets the bon mot prize of the day. I’ll chime in that they appear to be posterior HIP replacements — more painful and leave a larger scar.
How is it possible to ignore something you share? I know what they mean, but logically the statement makes little sense.
Logic is not the foundation of Woke philosophy. “Truth” is merely a cudgel to gain power. In this case, the power that comes with leading the ensemble.
You are not a victim
Let’s hope it’s not the only qualification they ever get!! Don’t we sanctify that word “victim” in the modern woke world? The people who use the term are living under a rock – a special gold-plated rock such as you never find in, say, Afghanistan. Americans need to get out more!!
You and your friend Thug (oops, Doug) need to learn what “Woke” means in the context the term was created. Your continual appropriation of it makes you both sound old and ignorant. Of course you’re right, it’s an American thing and may be beyond your limited understanding. And while I’m at it, your comments on disabilities in a previous article should have embarrassed you.
The lament of the goners…Your train has already left, dude. 5 years ago.
Oh Doug, you do make speeches. Immerseel doesn’t practise what he preaches. It’s not hard.
That’s very sad. Jos Van Immerseel has been an exceptionally inspired and well rounded musician, both as a conductor and as a fortepianist. He has few equals and no superiors.
Do we know how long this has been going on? Is he no longer getting away with old behaviors, or is old age taking its toll?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXzns6kw78Q
It’s probably another excuse to say “shove over; it’s our turn now”. I have many fine recordings from Van Immerseel and that orchestra.
He may be like the current US President; in cognitive decline, but the sharks are out to get him and not cover it up at olympic-level proportions, as with the USA example. And nobody noticed…….!!!!! Apparently. Except anyone with an IQ above room temperature.
I too love many of Van Immerseel’s recordings, also as a fortepianist. I once had the privilege of hearing him live, in a duo recital with the great Anner Bylsma. Aaah.
Those with an IQ below room temperature fall for a 34 times convicted felon, racist, rapist, conman of protean dimensions who produces some brain farts like ” they are eating our pets”. 70 years ago Cadet Bone Spurs would have been grilled on the electric chair, like the Rosenbergs, rightly so.
Trump’s unapologetic racism is probably very attractive to some of his voters.
You left out plenty of disqualifying facts (like disdain for science, the laws and the constitution) as well repulsive behaviors (like nonstop whining), pervasive ignorance even on matters of popular culture (did Hannibal Lecter die? Huh?).
But why emulate that despicable human being in being vengeful? His own mental decline is already well underway. Let us hope he’ll leave us alone after November and live out his declining years surrounded by his loved ones.
Besides, where would Trump be without the far right media? (Nixon would have been extremely jealous.)
Should we also take revenge against the Murdochs? Where would we stop?
Without knowing significant details, it seems a dreadful way to be ending his career (barring a JEG-style renaissance).
Whatever actions follow, though perhaps it might also include crimes against fashion…
Like you, I don’t know the significant details. But, when someone is the founder of an orchestra, as well as its musical director, and is dismissed by its Board, I believe that that person certainly has a right to a sizeable share of the profits accrued by the orchestra during his tenure.
Profits? Generated by an orchestra?
Anima Eterna s funded by the Flemish regional government.
Sadly, some men become more violent, suspicious, stubborn, mean and nasty as they age. It’s not uncommon. Many reasons for it and the scariest could be a sign of dementia. Add to it the unfulfilled aspirations and dreams of so many and you have a recipe for disaster.
And the other half the world population doesn’t do this, aye? More intelligent and thoughtful analysis. Not.
The ‘recipe for disaster’ is much closer to home than you think.
They are eating our pets!!!
Yes, Sue, it does happen with women. But in my experience working with the elderly in various capacities, this seems to strike men more often than women and I don’t know why.
True – why it even happens to women too!!
How dare these conductors think they’re in charge!
It’s been my experience that a lot of unpleasant behavior by leaders has been allowed in the past. I’ve personally had to deal with deeply disrespectful treatment from “genius” conductors and musicians. Gardiner was notorious for his volatile temper, it seems that Jos Van Immerseel is also a difficult individual.
My own feeling is no one is that good, Toscanini is dead and the era of podium tyrants whose behavior is excused because of their “brilliance” is over. Hallelujah! It’s impossible to do one’s best work in an abusive environment. For all you out there who want to call me “woke” go for it. Call me whatever you like, no one is indispensable.
Obviously a conductor draws-out the best from his players if they are treated with respect and feel safe. It’s like pets: military treatment may make them obey but you don’t get any pleasure from them.
Oh, I don’t know; ‘military leaders’ of orchestras in the past got some pretty fabulous musical results.
Are conductors more vile and authoritarian than they’ve ever been or are their musicians more soy and precious than they’ve ever been? Discuss.
Are fabulous musical results more important than respectful behaviour (let alone violent behaviour) to colleagues?
Considering the age of the conductors in question, I agree with J. Barcelo that dementia is a strong possibility. Certainly, their behavior cannot be tolerated, and they must leave, but they should still receive any pension due them, and their current state should not erase their past contributions.
All these angry old white man’s aggression and bullying has to stop. And if it means termination, so be it. No one should empower someone like John Elliott Gardner to continue his bullying by joining
Only old white men bully?
Of course not, but (certainly in the past) they are more likely to get away with it.
I’m old and white and not ashamed of it, but fo admit to being occasionally peeved.
Why do you mention that they’re white? Is that remotely relevant?
Wow, the poor board of directors! Imagine if they had to work with Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, or Mahler!
They were puffickly decent guys, except Beethoven and Mahler but they were provoked by their own temper.
In the past, there was no democratic sense in what was there of music life. Musicians leading ensembles or orchestras had to behave like kings, otherwise nothing would get off the ground.
It was only Lully whose anger happened to directly end his career, stabbing himself in the foot with his baton and dying as a result.
HIP comes with HIB. Historicly Informed Behavior.
Surely sir, HIB= Hysterically Illformed Behavior….
When my mum got old she got very grumpy and started to smack me when I did something she thought was naughty. The fact is old people often get like this we shouldn’t blame them but they should retire when it happens or find a new role using their experience that doesn’t involve running a team (researcher or author maybe?).
In an age where diversity is the touchstone, we should embrace all kinds of means to a particular end; that is, creative excellence (or one person’s idea of excellence). So there should be room for all conducting styles. We used to have the martinets – Toscanini, Reiner, Szell, Gardiner etc and also Walter, Haitink, Kubelik, Rattle and a whole lot of Finns with a more convivial, inclusive approach. So it’s not necessarily a generational shift. There should be room for all so long as the orchestra is happy.
This temperament problem with HIP performers seems to be related to the style of the music they perform: it requires an immense discipline and holding back of energy, and cultivating very small details in phrasing, articulation, etc. Unused psychic energies then burst from the seams of mental control and rain down on the innocent heads of players who – by the way – have the same problems but no underlings to scold. That is, not at rehearsels, they preserve their rage for at home.
PS:
Only recently it has come to light that famous [redacted], one of the pioneers of HIP, has always been the most understanding, respectful, gentle, inspiring conductors in existence, but when he came home from a rehearsel he first had a screaming session in a pillow after which followed a thorough beating-up of his wife and the smashing of plates in the kitchen. Art is achieved through deep suffering, although its location may differ.
Thank God it’s only temper tantrums. For one horrible moment I thought the old boy had taken up the ophicleide or something.
It was the profoundly disturbing sound of the ophicleide that led to the general outlawing of the instrument in the 2nd half of the 19th century.