Yannick and Dude take their opera orchs to London
NewsHeadlines of the Barbican’s new season, announced this morning:
First UK performance in over 20 years by New York’s The Met Orchestra, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin
L’Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris makes its UK debut conducted by Gustavo Dudamel
Gustavo Dudamel conducts his first UK concert as Music Director of L’Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris who make their UK debut with music by Messiaen, Haydn, Ravel and Richard Strauss. (22 Apr)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin directs New York’s The Met Orchestra in its first UK appearance in over 20 years, with a stellar trio of soloists – Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming and Russell Thomas – in evocative music with a Shakespearean flavour (29 Jun)
If I once might’ve said there is no comparison between the two orchestras, now with the alarming attrition at the Met, I’m not so sure.
Levine brought the Met orchestra to rival the Big 5 or 7 (who then recruited principal players directly from it), and Gelb did his very best to tear it down during the pandemic.
Would love to be at the Barbican to hear both.
As for the respective music directors, they are known quantities, we know what they do, so it’ll be less of a discovery.
The Bill Clinton of classical music takes his orchestra to Stillwater, Oklahoma in January.
Stillwater. Less crowd, no press, more time for his favorite post rehearsal afternoon activities, made possible through the liberality of Alexander and the CSO.
Yes, the orchestra is playing in Stillwater. Also, other university towns such as Iowa City and Mesa AR.. Also 3 stops in California and concerts in Toronto. This was a “last minute” tour to replace the Asian tour that had to be scrapped months ago because of Covid restrictions. Major American orchestras regularly take domestic tours to pay university artist series. I think this is to the good. Such hate CR.
NY Phil in Stillwater for three concerts this week. Chicago Symphony and Philly Orch also on there this season. Hmm… Arizona State has it goin’ on!
I’ve said it before and I’m going to reiterate it: I think constantly referring to Gustavo Dudamel as ‘the Dude’ sounds dismissive and is disrespectful. How would people in your country feel if we Yanks had referred to Sir Adrian Boult as, ‘the Bolt’? . . . or Barbirolli as ‘the Barber’?
Or Sir Simon Rattle as “The Rat”.
Or Bernard Haitink (God rest his soul) as “The Tink”.
How is that different from Jimmy or Lennie? It’s an affectionate nickname.
Really? – that needs to be explained to you? . . . Jimmie and Lennie are accepted, less formal names for James and Leonard. Most people with those names would happily accept the less formal sounding version. Have you walked up to Gustavo Dudamel and asked him if he likes being referred to as ‘the Dude’? . . . would you like being referred to as ‘the Pag’ in a world wide public forum?
Imagine if you were called “The Ano”. Our friends in Italy would love that one.