Riccardo Muti plays ball in Chicago

Sue says:

October 19, 2016 at 9:01 pm

Oh, Muti is just adorable. I’ve seen him twice now in Vienna. He was a good friend of Carlos Kleiber, who once conducted disguised as Boris Becker and another time as the Bhagwan!!!

Reply

Robin Mitchell-Boyask says:

October 19, 2016 at 11:13 pm

This older version of Muti has been a pleasant surprise, but I speak on behalf of many who witnessed his utter lack of humor and excessive seriousness in Philadelphia when I want to grab this impostor and ask: “Who are you and what have you done with Riccardo Muti?” I suspect an alien %)

Reply

Sue says:

October 20, 2016 at 6:03 am

I’ve heard that criticism often. Perhaps, as an Italian, he isn’t partial to Americans? I really don’t know. But you don’t see any of that truculence here (admittedly he was in front of a camera):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxQHCFBlju4

Reply
- Matt D says:
  
  October 23, 2016 at 5:00 pm
  
  LOL! Italians not partial to Americans? In general, Italians and Americans get along very well.
  
  Reply
norman lebrecht says:

October 20, 2016 at 8:35 am

Philly was such a mismatch for him, Robin.

Reply

Cyril Blair says:

October 20, 2016 at 6:02 am

It’s a terrible song (much like Happy Birthday) but I must admit I’ve never heard it played better. And maybe it helped because the Cubs won tonight to tie the NLCS at 2-2.

Some men become curmudgeons as they age, some become cuddly bears. I guess Muti is the latter…

Reply