Gidon Kremer appoints permanent guest artists
mainIn a typically offbeat move, the violinist has named two ‘permanent guest artists in residence’ for his Kremerata Baltica.
Both are pianists. The Frenchman Lucas Debargue is well established, the Latvian Georgijs Osokins less so. Debargue said: ‘Music cannot be separated from relationships. We started this adventure with
the Weinberg quintet and then something happened. I kept my feelings preciously guarded, but later
Gidon Kremer confirmed them by inviting me to participate more and more. I fell in love with all
the ideas, craziness and unexpected reactions of the musicians. Kremerata Baltica is now a part of
my life and I want to contribute to its history.’
‘It’s the future of Kremerata Baltica,’ said Kremer.
Is Kremer really looking for heirs…?
What a hateful thing to write: “In a typically offbeat move, the violinist has named two ‘permanent guest artists in residence’ for his Kremerata Baltica.” Why is if offbeat?
Kramer has done more for classical music than you could ever dream you could do.
fflambeau, you seem to think that “offbeat” is a pejorative term, an insult. It is not. It simply means unorthodox or unconventional — two words that certainly apply to Kremer and his career. Here I think it is used with a sense of compliment, as if to say “typical of Gidon Kremer to do something nobody else would have thought of.” He has unusual ideas and takes a lot of risks, and things usually work out well. (Kremerata Baltica was an “offbeat” idea in itself, for example)
I am with you in my high esteem of Kremer, his artistry and originality. But what is offbeat about the Kremerata Baltica idea? He was not the only middle aged top string soloist to do that. Maybe I don’t know enough about the background of this wonderful group.
I meant the collaborative, unorthodox, “offbeat” way it is run: not the traditional “I am the music director and you are my employees” model from what I understand.
Thanks!