BBC conductor takes second orchestra
NewsFinns were told tonight that John Storgårds, one of half a dozen Finnish batons employed by BBC orchestras, is taking over as chief conductor of the Turku Philharmonic.
Turku has started work on a new concert hall, something that won’t happen in Britain in this lifetime.
Storgårds, 60, replaced Omer Meir Wellber at the BBc Philharmonic in Manchester in November 2022.
Also principal guest of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa) through 2027-2028.
Lucky Turku. He’s a wonderful conductor.
His recent Weinberg 12 recording with BBC Phil is magnificent.
Turku may just have need of a new concert hall more than the UK does.
Fine conductor. His guest stints with the National Symphony Orchestra [Washington DC] including Nielsen 5, were superb and much appreciated by the orchestra.
Who cares about Turku and his conducting abilities? I want to know what he (or better yet, his wife) drives.
“… won’t happen in Britain in this lifetime.” Depends on whose lifetime. Perhaps somebody in their twenties could hope. After all, Manchester got the Bridgewater Hall in the 1990s.
The problem is in major cities such as London, where the LSO could bo with a better venue, a new concert hall becomes an ego trip for architects with over inflated designs costing ridiculous amounts. In Poland recently the excellent National Radio Orchestra got a fine new hall at a fraction of the cost of these grandiose ego trips.
Did Norman ever do a piece on O M Wellber? Why did he leave the Philharmonic so suddenly?
When did Edinburgh leave Britain? They’re building in there now…
What a shame we won’t reliably get him around the world as a guest anymore.