What's the feeling around here about Essa Peka Salonon's conducting? - sjb - Music Lane

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What's the feeling around here about Essa Peka Salonon's conducting?

sjb

I've attending a lot of L.A. Phil concerts in the last 4+ years and have watched him become, what seems to me, more into his self image and less into a deep connection to the music.
The orchestra is wonderful but they often only show how good they are under guest conducters.
Don't get me wrong, Salonen's been a great Music Director and has, I believe, been instrumental in the L.A. Phil moving up a notch or two towards being one of the great orchestras. Conducting wise he certainly has his moments and the orchestra under him can be magical and extremely powerful and effecting but it seems that I'm seeing more concerts recently (last season and so far this season) that leave me less than satiated and more often than not it's when he's conducting (most recently the Eroica... which was played well but was lacking the kind of swirling intensity and soul that, to me, is at the heart of LVB's music).
I've gone from looking forward to - and oftn being moved on - the nights he conducts to wondering if I should start avoiding them.
My father matured musically watching Bernstein conduct the NYPO and 4 years ago he and I saw Salonen conduct LVB's Ninth and my father was openly wishing that he (Salonen) would leave L.A. and take over in NY. As my father has been my classical music mentor I may have put too much stock in his praise and it may just be that I'm finally seeing ESP through my own eyes. Or it may be that I'm being too hard on him and, having experienced it enough times, am expecting transcendence all the time.
So... I'm wondering what people's opinion of him is and what, if anything, is the word on the street is about his conducting?

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Topic - What's the feeling around here about Essa Peka Salonon's conducting? - sjb 22:23:59 10/18/05 (10)

I started attending the PA Phil. in 1960. - jsm 12:39:27 10/31/05 (1)

Make that the LA Phil.!!! (nt) - jsm 12:40:52 10/31/05 (0)

Mehta's bringing you the Bruckner Eighth in January, should prove *something*... nt - clarkjohnsen 09:13:02 10/19/05 (4)

Mehta, hmmm... - EBerlin 10:48:33 10/19/05 (0)

I don't know - sjb 10:23:18 10/19/05 (2)

"...but he can also be great." Yes. He should not be so easily dismissed as some do. A story: - clarkjohnsen 11:08:52 10/19/05 (1)

Strauss tone poems with LAPO--very nice. nt - markrohr 07:07:04 10/20/05 (0)

Of course that should read Esa Pekka. nt - sjb 23:57:14 10/18/05 (0)

Re: What's the feeling around here about Essa Peka Salonon's conducting? - Todd Krieger 22:49:53 10/18/05 (1)

If either happens I'll look forward to hearing about it. nt - sjb 23:57:56 10/18/05 (0)

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