Dudamel snubs Philly

Dudamel snubs Philly

News

norman lebrecht

February 12, 2022

Message received:

Gustavo Dudamel has withdrawn from his scheduled debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra, March 24–27, 2022, for personal reasons. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin has graciously agreed to conduct all four concerts in Dudamel’s absence.

“We are so grateful to Yannick for stepping in and showcasing the special chemistry he shares with the Orchestra,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. “We look forward to welcoming Gustavo at another time for what will be a thrilling debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra.”

Comments

  • David A. Boxwell says:

    The Dude doesn’t abide.

  • Plum says:

    W.H.Y…are you using misleading language in your headline…? Dudamel ‘cancels’ debut w/Philly Orchestra would have sufficed….shame on you

  • enquiring mind says:

    How is it a snub and not just a cancellation?

  • Frank Flambeau says:

    Snubs? His nonappearance could have been for any number of reasons. I’m sorry but this is a horrible headline.

  • Peter San Diego says:

    Hmmm… doesn’t sound like a snub to me…

  • Sidelius says:

    Very surprising he hasn’t been there already. He seems like he’s been everywhere. People there will just say he saved the best for last, right? (Sorry Chicago)

    • Hal Sacks says:

      He WAS in Philly in Verizon Hall Conducting the Israel Philharmonic several years back. I believe it was on a US Tour.

  • a colleague says:

    ehrm, how is this a “snub”?

  • Hal Sacks says:

    Bring back Blomstedt, the Orchestra loves him.

  • Hal Sacks says:

    Bring back Blomstedt, a Philly favorite.

  • Polly says:

    How do you know this is a “snub”?

  • MacroV says:

    It’s not really a snub, but I guess it’s more click-bait. Philly says they’re hoping he’ll come another time.

    I find Matias Tarnopolsky’s statement a bit bizarre: The Music Director is getting a chance to share the special chemistry he has – with his own orchestra? I should hope so.

    But shouldn’t the statement be more like “Yannick is sorry his good friend Gustavo Dudamel is unable to conduct these concerts, but looks forward to welcoming him in a future season?”

    • BigSir says:

      young people would say the use of “his good friend” oversharing, in this context.

    • Mariebob says:

      I agree that Gustavo would never deliberately snub any musical organization. He has dedicated his life to conducting. Whatever his reasons, we should respect his privacy.

    • Hal Sacks says:

      As it turned out, Yannick had to cancel 3 of the 4 concerts in the series due to illness. The extraordinary former Assistant Conductor and a friend of the orchestra Kensho Watanabe, flew in from Paris on short notice and conducted the last 3 concerts. The Shostakovitch 5th Symphony was originally scheduled for Dudamel was delivered in Spectacular fashion to standing ovations all 3 concerts.

  • John Gaudi says:

    Your disc is slipped. Do you have a gripe with Philadelphia? Jealous?
    Not Big Five?
    What’s your gripe?

  • V.Lind says:

    Perhaps one of his children is ill, or a parent, or his wife has just had a miscarriage, or someone he loves has had a fatal diagnosis, or a crisis…it is not your business or mine, it is a PERSONAL REASON.

    Dudamel does not have a record of cancellations. To deem one made for personal reasons a “snub” is invidious.

  • Jack says:

    Snubs?

    “We look forward to welcoming Gustavo at another time for what will be a thrilling debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra.”

    Really, Norman

  • John W. Norvis says:

    “Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin has graciously agreed…”

    Mind boggling. At least they didn’t write “condescended”

    • Kenny says:

      Typically tone deaf PR. I can never remember whether it’s us over-50s or the unders, but everyone seems to do it wrong(ly). At least they didn’t write “aus liebeswürdigen Weise,” as they always have done in Austria. Creepy weird phraseology.

  • Mister New York says:

    Someone on your staff needs a dictionary to find the meaning of snubs.

  • Pianofortissimo says:

    Dudamel or Nézet-Séguin?

    Pest or cholera?

  • Hal Sacks says:

    He may be in the production of “Maestro” Bradley Cooper’s Bernstein film which starts shooting in spring.

  • arthur miller says:

    SNUB is obviously a poor description without more info, but it’s why there are so many comments. D is a star and seems invited to the best orchestras, though I have noticed rave reviews of his recordings. Still, charisma counts. Muti still has it as do others. Honeck at Pitt should be on these top of lists.

  • Hal Sacks says:

    Just read..Dudamel is guest conducting the New York Philharmonic doing a Schumann Festival in March. Possibly a Philharmonic audition is more important to him right now.

    • Barry Guerrero says:

      Why would he drop the L.A. Phil. for the N.Y. Phil.? . . . somehow, I don’t think so.

      • Rich C. says:

        Ever hear of Zubin Mehta? Not sure of the timeline, but same path.

        • Barry Guerrero says:

          I’ve not only heard of Zubin Mehta, thank you, but I was once introduced to him in Vienna – a friend of a friend situation. . No, the timeline isn’t the same. The L.A. Phil. also has a far better hall now than it did in Mehta’s time. Most of Mehta’s L.A. recordings were made at U.C.L.A. (Royce Hall).

    • Kenny says:

      A “Schumann Festival”? Is there such a thing? Really? You got 10 works, max.

      • Enquirer says:

        10 works? more than that even just orchestral, plus chamber, solo piano, choral, lieder … (and then there is Clara too). More than enough for a festival.

    • Michel Lemieux says:

      It’s an open secret around the halls of NY Phil that Debbie Borda desperately wants Dudamel for the NY Phil. She will easily get the board to pay him 5 mil plus.

      All that Malki in NYC talk has been generated by her own press team.

      • John W. Norvis says:

        Borda hinting about Malkki to draw attention away from a Dudamel push? Diabolical. I like it. Wonder if LA would just hand the reins to Malkki at that point.

  • Benjamin Bittern says:

    I don’t think he’s a good match. What the orchestra needs now is a traditional master conductor, one to remove the Yannick influence and restore the sound. But that will never happen.

    • Barry Guerrero says:

      Restore the sound? . . . really? . . . have you actually listened to their recent Rachmaninoff recording of the first symphony and the “Symphonic Dances”? . . . absolutely nothing wrong with that orchestral sound.

  • Frank Flambeau says:

    Should be read in conjunction with article on Paris Opera where the Dude also opted out. Something’s wrong.

  • MOST READ TODAY: