Conductor collapses in mid-concert

Conductor collapses in mid-concert

News

norman lebrecht

February 05, 2024

Ten minutes before the end of yesterday’s closing concert of the Folle journe festival in Nantes, the large auditorium of the Cité des Congrès was evacuated after the conductor Joseph Swensen felt unwell and collapsed on stage.

Emergency services were summoned and Swensen, 63, was taken to hospital. A bulletin today said he was recovering and there is no cause for concern.

Swensen is the incoming music director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine.

Comments

  • Anthony Sayer says:

    Hmm…I’ve been going to his concerts for years and have always felt he didn’t look terribly healthy. Look after yourself, sir. You’re still young.

  • Paul Carlile says:

    Sorry to hear this. He gave a magnificent concert in Montpellier with Vadim Repin as soloist (in Prok2 and…(ugh), MacMillan(?) concerto.. For encores he joined Repin on violin for the Prokofiev duos. It was marvellous. Speedy recovery Sir!

  • Jay Shulman says:

    Very gifted violinist and conductor. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

  • Norman Krieger says:

    Sending best wishes and blessings to dear Joey for a solid recovery!!

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