Star bassist declines Currentzis offer
NewsThe Dutch doublebass virtuoso Rick Stotijn has been explaining why, at the last moment, he resisted pressure to join Teodor Currentzis’s controversial new Utopia orchestra.
Rick, who has a new solo album ‘Doppo espressivo’ out this week, told“> Dutch media:
‘Long before the war he had approached me several times for musicAeterna. Now I would never consider that anyway, because of the Russian ties. But he really wanted me, and Utopia is an idealistic project that revolves around dialogue and cooperation, with no Russian financial connections. …
‘But he really had his heart set on it, so I thought, okay, I’ll do it sometime. Such a project orchestra is an interesting experiment, you know for sure that it is not played on autopilot. …
‘I expected, like many others, that Currentzis would come up with a clear statement that this new orchestra would be a kind of escape for him. The lack of such a statement disappointed me. According to people around him, it is impossible, even if Currentzis is privately against the war, as he feels responsible for the members of musicAeterna – if he speaks out, musicians and staff will be thrown out. But it’s very clear to me that I don’t want to be associated with his ensemble if he doesn’t distance himself from the war. I’ve never met him, but I’m definitely going to talk to him these days. After all, dialogue is the aim of the project.’
Well said …
In one sentence he says that he is aware that musicaeterna musicians can potentially be thrown on the streets if Currentzis makes a statement yet in the very next sentence he says he doesn’t want to be associated with his ensemble if he doesn’t make a statement. So he’d prefer musicians be on the street but look himself like a good person.
sure, well said………
Again, no idea what kind of reporting it is here? Clearly the musician IS joining the new orchestra, if you read the article and not cherry pick some quotes?
Rick Stotijn is considered one of the best double bass players in Europe. He […] is on a train to Hamburg where he will join the European tour of Utopia, the new orchestra of rebel conductor Theodor Currentzis.
[…] “Long before the war he had approached me several times for musicAeterna. Now I would never consider that anyway, because of the Russian ties. But he really wanted me and Utopia is an idealistic project that revolves around dialogue and cooperation, with no Russian financial connections. Actually it was bad, due to other obligations I missed the first concert in Luxembourg on Tuesday evening, I will join tonight in Hamburg.”
Isn’t that difficult? Currentzis is known for its intensive rehearsal periods.
“It’s not ideal. But he really had his heart set on it, so I thought, okay, I’ll do it sometime. Such a project orchestra is an interesting experiment, you know for sure that it is not played on autopilot. But it’s going to be concentrating tonight. Fortunately, I know the repertoire well, Stravinsky’s Firebird and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe suite .”
The next day, Stotijn texts from the train that it was an “insane concert” in Hamburg: “Russians and Ukrainians together at one desk and afterwards everyone was hugging each other. Now on to Vienna.”
Thank you for correcting this appalling journalism! I hope Stotijn receives an apology from slipped disc.
I would t hold your breath. The musician makes the point that many have made. Currentzis is in an impossible position. He’s trying to navigate his way out while securing his and his musicians’ safety in the face of a lunatic regime. But safe in London or wherever this blog continually attacks him. Deplorable journalistic ethics.
But nothing threatens his or his musicians future under Russia’s as you call it “lunatic” regime. It is only here in a freedom loving “West” people are bullied, blackmailed and forced to say things they don’t want to to keep their jobs.
For crying out loud! When an orchestra is called Utopia, you know that this is something ridiculous!
This is what I read:
“Morally superior double bass player has just released a new album, go check it out”
Music will not be validated until all instances of wrong think are eliminated.
He hasn’t refused. Period. See Walter Klemmer’s reaction here, which is more than a day old by now. The fact that this patently untrue article remains up is shocking. Read the original article here: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/10/07/bassist-stotijn-hoopte-op-statement-van-russische-dirigent-currentzis-a4144468 Ans if you don’t know Dutch, this google translation is correct: “Utopia is an idealistic project that revolves around dialogue and cooperation, without Russian financial connections. It actually worked out badly, due to other commitments I missed the first concert in Luxembourg on Tuesday evening, I will join in Hamburg tonight.”