Maestro woe: Semyon Bychkov has back operation

Maestro woe: Semyon Bychkov has back operation

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

September 19, 2024

The Czech Philharmonic has lost its music director for the opening of the season while he undergoes back surgery.

The first three concerts will be conducted by Charles Dutoit.

Bychkov, 71, will be incapacitated for a month.

UPDATE: Message from Semyon: ‘Having undergone back surgery 2 days ago, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to the doctors who performed it. ‘I’ve received many heartwarming messages of support and encouragement, some from people I’ve never met. I’d like to thank all of them.’

Comments

  • Anton Bruckner says:

    Dutuoit rehabilitated?

    • Don Ciccio says:

      Dutoit has continued to conduct in Europe even after his unofficial ban. Mostly second-rate orchestras, although the Czech Philharmonic is an obvious exception.

  • anon says:

    It never ceases to anger me when I read a concert announcement and see the name of a man who assaulted a personal friend. Dutoit should not be working.

  • J Barcelo says:

    Seems there are a lot of conductors who suffer back ailments. Solti had it really bad. Conducting teachers needs to have their students emulate the master of the baton: Sir Adrian Boult. He used his fingers and a lengthy baton and made a reliable, clear, precise beat – and it didn’t wreak havoc with his body. Boult once referred to Rattle as “one of the sweaty ones”.

    • Donald Hansen says:

      Boult also told his pupils to remember they were performing for the blind man in the audience. In other words, no need to put on a show.

    • Petros Linardos says:

      I’ve always looked up to seasoned conductors who achieved supreme results with minimal movement. So much so that it tried to emulate the octogenarian Karl Böhm in a conducting class for non majors, with disastrous results.

      Doesn’t it take time for conductors to learn economy of movement? Rattle was 28 when Boult died. Even Andriss Nelsons, once a poster boy of the sweaty school, seems to have cooled down a bit lately.

      Is Bychkov overly kinetic? That hasn’t been my impression, although I experienced him in concert only 5 years ago.

    • Jobim75 says:

      What about Karajan who wore even a corset at some point and whose pain could be read on his face. I heard different théories about it, one that he fell from a roof…

      • Petros Linardos says:

        Skiing accident is the story I’ve heard. I first saw him onstage in 1979, when he was 71. He already looked frail.

    • Philipp Lord Chandos says:

      Alternatively, swallow a broom stick like Furtwängler!

  • Dan Oren says:

    Don’t forget Karajan

    • Philipp Lord Chandos says:

      He will soon be forgotten since the signposts carrying his name have been dismantled in most places, except for Berlin.

  • Backdoc says:

    I am very impressed by someone who can accurately predict the time scale of recovery from spinal surgery. It will depend on who has sold him the operation.

  • OSF says:

    Not only the MeToo but Dutoit is 88. Interesting pairing with the Czech Philharmonic, in any case.

  • Rob says:

    Two main causes of back pain are:

    Alcohol

    Poor posture

    Alcohol dries the discs out causing slipped disc.

    Drink plenty of water every day and sit up straight.

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