Maestra move: Aussie orch signs busy Mex
mainThis is seriously cool.
Alondra de la Parra, who has cancelled her season’s engagements to have a baby, has been named music director of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Seriously cool – except for the Brisbane temperatures, which run into the 40s.
press release:
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of acclaimed conductor Alondra de la Parra as Music Director.
It is the first appointment of a Music Director by any Australian orchestra, and is the first Music Director position for Ms de la Parra.
QSO Chief Executive Officer Ms Sophie Galaise said Ms de la Parra was revered as one of the most compelling conductors of her generation. “The appointment of Alondra de la Parra is a major turning point for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra – not only are we the first in the country to appoint a Music Director, therefore aligning ourselves with the great orchestras of the world, but with our first Music Director we have secured a music leader who could choose to work with any orchestra across the globe,” she said.
In May this year Ms de la Parra performed to standing ovations with the QSO. As Music Director designate in 2016 she will open QSO’s concert season with Mahler 2 on February 27. Ms de la Parra will commence her three year role as Music Director in 2017, the orchestra’s 70th anniversary year, and she will be resident in Brisbane throughout the year.
That is seriously cool, Mr Bean is playing clarinet!
http://www.alondradelaparra.com/en/event/queensland-symphony-orchestra-5/
In a place where they spell Strauss as Straus and Respighi as Respighy, we know that we are not dealing with a serious country anyway.
Dude, that’s her website not an Aussie one. We’re dead set serious down here. Just ask Norman. He has nothing but praise for us….
Too right, mate.
Bloke, all the worse if she can’t spell! Mate, this sheila gives female conducting a bad name. At least if you’d have hired Maestra Hannigan, you could have saved on the soprano fee for the Mahler 2.
No disrespect meant to de la Parra or Galaise, but Queensland deserves better. After hearing de la Parra in live concert and viewing/listening to her video material I am convinced she is all show, no substance and predict that Adelaide has made the far better appointment with Nicholas Carter, regardless of the wording of the title.
Don’t know Carter but unfortunately I certainly agree with your opinion on De La Parra.
Nicholas Carter is the real deal and Adelaide is all the better for securing him. I’m not referring to Carter when I paraphrase Beecham in asking why do we import so many third rate foreign conductors when we have so many second rate ones of our own?
Lebecht, what am I missing here? What makes this ‘seriously cool’? Most announcements like this get a much more muted resonse from you.
That should be ‘Lebrecht’ and ‘response’, of course. Unresponsive keyboard!
I can only agree with the sentiments above. I shouldn’t be surprised any more, but I still am, that so little talent can go so far!
That video makes me want to vomit. Queensland should simply have got this conducting 3yr old and been quids/dollars in as they would only have needed to buy him the odd rusk. Musically they would probably be better off too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0REJ-lCGiKU
HACK! HACK!HACK! I know because I have the misfortune of performing with her.
Funnily enough she said exactly the same about you…………but in much more diplomatic terms!!!!
She epitomizes the worst about the conducting profession: she has absolutely no talent, musicians hate her, her money and connections enable her to secure positions, and ultimately boards with no comprehension of the music-making process are responsible for inflicting her upon the public.
Absolutely agree! HACK!
Just like M. Alsop?
Dear Elingtonia, there seems to be a consensus here on this forum that your friend is kind of a joke….not the funny kind. If she returned the hack comment towards me, I would have to ask “how could somebody with no ear for music be able to judge?”
She is clearly a major talent.
I was reminded of the great Joseph R. Olefirowicz:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJU0lC3iHaY
Brisbane is one of Australia’s major cities and a seriously thriving, cultural Mecca. The temperature in summer rarely goes into the 40’s because the climate is sub-tropical (and therefore humid). The QSO concert with Allondra earlier in 2015 is one of the best I’ve heard from the orchestra and on that basis it’s a fine appointment. It’s great to see a conductor who is willing to see this nation as a serious place for music making. Australia is a far more self-possessed nation these days, and big name conductors and soloists want a piece of it. Some of you trollers should show some respect.
If you like her, you deserve what you get.
There is such a disconnect between her and the music/orchestra. She has gotten pretty good at watching herself in the mirror.
QSO’s website “news” item from American NBC has Alondra as chief conductor as well as musical director. Precisely, What is the role of musical director? On announcement, there should have been some clarification of the role, particularly since this is unique to an Australian major performing arts orchestra.
I’m impressed with her conducting Stravinsky earlier this year with QSO.