Van Zweden withdraws ‘for family reasons’

The incoming music director of the New York Philharmonic has pulled out of March concerts with the National Symphony in Washington.

He seems to have left the orch in a bit of  pickle. They have called in the British baton Mark Wigglesworth, who has not conducted in DC since 2002. Like most things in Washington these days, you can believe what you choose.

Here’s the press release: (WASHINGTON)—Conductor Mark Wigglesworth, who last appeared with the NSO in 2002, will lead the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in its subscription programs on March 2–4, 2017, with violinist Simone Lamsma. He replaces guest conductor Jaap van Zweden, who has withdrawn for family reasons. The program—Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Brahms’s Symphony No. 2—remains the same. These performances mark Lamsma’s debut with the NSO.