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Jaap van Zweden!

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Posted on January 27, 2016 at 08:39:52
Ivan303
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"The New York Philharmonic announced on Wednesday that it was turning to Jaap van Zweden, an intense, exacting Dutch conductor, to be its next music director and guide it through the costly renovation of its hall, two seasons of exile and, if all goes well, a triumphant return to Lincoln Center."

Link below: Just as I was building up a bit of tolerance for Alan Gilbert. ;-)


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

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They could have done worse, posted on January 27, 2016 at 09:16:43
Chris from Lafayette
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 As the times article states, he has a reputation in Dallas for his abrasive personality (I've read about this before), but his recordings seem good. I have a Mahler Fifth and a couple of Haydn discs, the latter of sufficiently non-HIP persuasion that they've stayed in my collection! ;-)

 

Wow!, posted on January 27, 2016 at 09:34:47
TGR
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 Interesting choice and not an expected one. Before Gilbert it seemed like the NYPO was into recycling conductors.

I have never heard the NYPO live, and actually I am not familiar with Gilbert's work - all this will change in a few months when the NYPO comes to town, with Gilbert in charge.

 

In Praise of Gilbert., posted on January 27, 2016 at 10:25:06
gd
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 OK, so he did not set the world on fire. I have heard some good things from him. Why I will always have good things to say is that in certain orchestral works that have a moment where the timing and execution have to be "just right" to hit a climax or a major change in color - Gilbert came through. Moments from Dvorak's 8th and Brahms piano concerto #2 come to mind, but there were others, in Nielsen for instance. Anyway, I have heard and own may recorded performances where the moments are missed/botched/glossed over, so I am always happy that Gilbert does his homework or listens to my mentally projected interpretation before the concert.

Though they are my local band I never loved the NYP. Even under Gilbert you could write off a committed first moment of any work, I have no idea why? They take a while to get going I guess (it does not mean that the first movements are bad, they can play anything and have over and over again). My girlfriend and I have series to the NYP and to Carnegie hall, I'll take a lot of orchestras over the NYP; still, I have a great deal of respect to anyone who gets litmus test moments in a score the way I do.

I look forward to new blood however. The NYP looks so different that it did ten years ago any thoughts about an imperial orchestra have to be over blown. I will relish a little shake up.

Looking forward to a complete NYP Haydn cycle in Zweden's first season, everyone does Mahler and Sibelius now it's time to push boundaries!

 

Listen to his solo violin records, posted on January 27, 2016 at 13:05:13
rbolaw
 As the article says, he was appointed concertmaster of the COA at the age of 19. He also made a series of violin and piano records with Ronald Brautigam well before starting his conducting career (back when he had hair!). He is pretty much as far from "HIP", in the sense I think you mean it, as you can get. (As a violinist, closer to Gidon Kremer.) However, I see he doesn't have much of a reputation with the music of contemporary composers, despite his comments.

 

RE: Jaap van Zweden!, posted on January 27, 2016 at 14:20:51
Amphissa
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 I've actually seen some of his performances and have a couple of DVDs of him conducting. He led a spectacular performance of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony at the International Rachmaninoff Festival some years ago. And you don't become Concertmaster of the Concertgebouw Orchestra at age 18 if you lack talent. In addition to his Dallas gig and European stands, he is also Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Whether the NYPO musicians, who are a notoriously snotty and temperamental bunch, will work with him is a different issue. They will not be in their own house, but on the road for 2 years (or more if the typical delays occur). He can be a bit abrasive, but he is creative and has vision and talent.

This is a surprise hire, but as far as I'm concerned, it is a big step up from Gilbert.


"Life without music is a mistake" (Nietzsche)

 

Interesting..., posted on January 27, 2016 at 17:38:29
kuma
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 I've seen him several times at the Orchestra Hall with CSO and schedule to see him again next season conducting Brahms German Requiem. A good solid conductor but not the most charismatic.

I gotta tell you BSO did good with Nelsons...

 

RE: Jaap van Zweden!, posted on January 27, 2016 at 22:47:37
learsfool
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 I don't really understand why so many think that this is a surprise choice. The New York Phil wanted him very badly before, but Dallas beat them to signing him - this was very widely reported at the time as a major coup for the DSO. Now that Gilbert is leaving, NY got the man they wanted in the first place. Absolutely no surprise to anyone in the music world professionally.

 

Have you played under him? Any impressions? [nt], posted on January 28, 2016 at 00:52:32
Chris from Lafayette
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RE: Jaap van Zweden!, posted on January 28, 2016 at 13:42:07
rbolaw
 Yes, that's all true. But I also seem to recall hearing in 2008 that the NYP tried to lure a number of conductors to succeed Lorin Maazel who turned them down, including and perhaps above all Riccardo Muti, who then went to the Chicago Symphony.
The NY job has always been a tough sell for conductors, and some of the reasons aren't hard to see. Anthony Tommasini, the NY Times senior music critic, has already published a column in which he makes little effort to conceal his disappointment at the choice of van Zweden, whom he sees as a conservative Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms specialist.
The reality is, top musicians can play any music well. The real conservatives are those in control of the NYP board. And NYC has a large and varied music scene, with other groups that do more progressive programming. Like it or not, the NYP is the museum with the marble columns outside and the Rembrandts and Titians inside, and there's no point in blaming van Zweden for that. Good luck to him.

 

Comment from the New Criterion, posted on January 28, 2016 at 16:13:33
srl1
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 See link.

 

RE: "back when he had hair!", posted on January 28, 2016 at 16:48:05
Ivan303
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Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
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Enjoy it while it's still there, Jaap.



First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: They could have done worse, posted on January 30, 2016 at 11:03:39
Analog Scott
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Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 I got to watch him rehearse and perform with the LSO in London. While this is just one instance I can say that he was not abrasive at all. And believe me the LSO gives it's guest conductors plenty of reasons to be "abrasive." He does however command respect. Maybe just what they need. IMO the New York Phil has regressed to the state of a second or even third rate orchestra. Jaap does demand excellence.

 

Tommasini's Article, posted on January 30, 2016 at 20:26:46
Mel
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Joined: February 21, 2001

 

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