NY Philharmonic Chooses New Conductor

[MylesBAstor]

Interesting choice.

[allenh]

Hey Myles,

We've been a NY Phil subscriber for the last 2 years. I haven't heard of Van Zweden before. On the NY Phil FB page I think subscribers from the DSO (from whence he came?) were congratulating the NY Phil on their latest hire. I guess that's a good sign?

I liked Gilbert. He tried different things to infuse enthusiasm into concert going. We'll see where Van Zweden takes it and how he and the NY Phil handle the redesign of Geffen Hall.

BTW, one of their Saturday programs next season looks amazing, with appearances by Yo-Yo Ma, and Danil Trifonov, and some great warhorses being performed (Schererazade and Symphonie Fantastique amongst them).

[MylesBAstor]

Hey Myles,

We've been a NY Phil subscriber for the last 2 years. I haven't heard of Van Zweden before. On the NY Phil FB page I think subscribers from the DSO (from whence he came?) were congratulating the NY Phil on their latest hire. I guess that's a good sign?

I liked Gilbert. He tried different things to infuse enthusiasm into concert going. We'll see where Van Zweden takes it and how he and the NY Phil handle the redesign of Geffen Hall.

BTW, one of their Saturday programs next season looks amazing, with appearances by Yo-Yo Ma, and Danil Trifonov, and some great warhorses being performed (Schererazade and Symphonie Fantastique amongst them).

I think today that any conductor must wear many hats including being a great fundraiser. New York has had great conductors and bad ones (stories about the friction between Masur and the orchestra abound-like the backstage note this is how he wants the piece performed and this is how we will do it) over the years with many stories to boot. Will see how van Zweden performs under the harsh scrutiny of the New York critics!

An interesting look back:

http://nyphil.org/about-us/history/music-directors

[astrotoy]

We heard about van Zweden when he was appointed MD of the Hong Kong Philharmonic back in 2012 or so. The HKP has been hiring European MD's the past few years from Europe, often with experience in the US. Usually they have retired from the previous gigs. He followed fellow Dutchman Edo de Waart, who was in SF and the Minnesota, and was around 70.

If van Zweden work out he could have a long tenure in NY.

Larry

[1morerecord2clean]

Did you know? Eugene Ormandy conducted for free? His salary late in his career was $250k yearly. Doesn't sound like much these days admittedly. However, his royalties were so deep from Columbia Records that the $250k was insignificant enough for him to relinquish his salary. And that boys and girls is why the absence of recording contracts and disinterest in classical music is such a burden for orchestras. Yes Myles, like university presidents orchestra conductors are hired because they are either inexperienced and inexpensive or they are hired for their connections for money. I'll leave it to everyone to figure out which box the new NYP conductor fits.

[MylesBAstor]

Did you know? Eugene Ormandy conducted for free? His salary late in his career was $250k yearly. Doesn't sound like much these days admittedly. However, his royalties were so deep from Columbia Records that the $250k was insignificant enough for him to relinquish his salary. And that boys and girls is why the absence of recording contracts and disinterest in classical music is such a burden for orchestras.

The loss of recording contracts has been devastating as has funding for the arts. Look at what's happened the last couple of years with strikes by the Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Atlanta symphonies. Ergo my comment about not only be top MD but also fundrasiser.

[1morerecord2clean]

The loss of recording contracts has been devastating as has funding for the arts. Look at what's happened the last couple of years with strikes by the Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Atlanta symphonies. Ergo my comment about not only be top MD but also fundrasiser.

Absolutely Myles. I know you know.🤓

[astrotoy]

IIRC, during HvK's heyday with the BPO, the orchestra members' recording fees and royalty checks were equal or greater than their salaries. Today, most all of the major orchestras have their own labels, and the vast majority of their recordings are from live concerts. So no more lucrative recording sessions and the royalties are a hit or miss bonus. MTT just celebrated his 20th year with the SFS, a quite unusually long tenure these days for a major orchestra (Ozawa at 29 years with BSO exceeds MTT) is that he is beloved in the community, actually lives in the city with his long time partner and now spouse and even walks his dog in the neighborhood.

Larry