Kremer's festival instals a successor

When Gidon Kremer this summer quit the Lockenhaus Festival after 30 years, some newspapers thought it was the end of the road for the offbeat, low-key Austrian event. But Kremer has quietly nominated a successor and now the festival has endorsed him.

He’s the Franco-German cellist Nicolas Altstaedt.

Kremer told the Vienna newspaper Der Standard: ‘I did not want a star or big name to take over. I wanted a personality who sees Lockenhaus differently from the way I’ve done for 30 years, but will still preserve its spirit.’

The violinist’s remarks are consistent with his outspoken attacks on the classical music star system, first published on slipped disc.

Altstaedt is already at work, quietly booking next summer’s events. Here’s the official announcement.