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ARCHIVED TOPICS => Performance and technique => Topic started by: Neil McGowan on October 31, 2011, 01:01:00 pm



Title: V Jurowski appointed as Chief Conductor of the Svetlanov Orchestra
Post by: Neil McGowan on October 31, 2011, 01:01:00 pm
As boreders here may have heard, conductor Mark Gorenstein was fired by the players of the Svetlanov State Symphony Orchestra in Moscow last month - after he hurled racially-based abuse (during rehearsals) at the soloists he was supposed to have been accompanying in the Tchaikovsky Competition.  The incidents were captured on video and quickly found favour on the internet.  They were subsequently written-up by Norman Lebcrecht (http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/music-november-11-maestros-baton-passed-to-youth-norman-lebrecht-conductors-herbert-von-karajan-gustavo-dudamel?page=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1).

Today comes news that Gorenstein's replacement has been appointed - Russo-German conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Jurowski has held a string of high-profile appointments of late, including the LPO and Glyndebourne.  He is due to conduct the premiere of RUSLAN & LUDMILA in the newly-reopened Bolshoi Theatre next week - the first opera performance in the recently inaugurated rebuilt theatre.  The Svetlanov Orchestra has a venerable pedigree inherited fom the soviet days, but has lapsed into decay under Gorenstein's lacklustre leadership.  It remains to be seen if Jurowski can stop the rot and re-establish the Svetlanov orchestra as a contender on the international stage.  However, it's believed that Jurowski's diary is currently so crammed with forward engagements that it could be some while before he can do much in person with the orchestra.


Title: Re: V Jurowski appointed as Chief Conductor of the Svetlanov Orchestra
Post by: t-p on October 31, 2011, 01:31:57 pm
I don't think this is a clip because there is no racial abuse here. He just tells them to play what is written there and they are playing badly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVzdEo6TTco

It is interesting what new conductor will bring to the orchestra.


Title: 75th Anniversary Concert of GASO* (aka the Svetlanov Orchestra), Moscow
Post by: Neil McGowan on November 13, 2011, 12:55:20 pm
This week the legendary Svetlanov Orchestra took to the stage for its 75th Anniversary Concert - with new MD Vladimir Jurowsky at the helm.

Program:

Stravinsky - The Firebird (Suite from the ballet)
Chausson - Poème for violin and orchestra  Op 25
Ravel - The Gypsy Girl for violin and orch
interval
Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances Op 45


The Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire
Solo Violin - Julia Fisher


The two big Russian works provided maestro Jurowsky ample opportunity to show the credentials of the Svetlanov Orchestra - the "bionic brass" were to the fore in the Stravinsky.  Russian orchestras always excel in the string sections, but the wind playing can vary from acceptable to downright awful.  Despite many years of neglect under Gorenstein's woeful reign, the wind players proved that they've kept their powder dry meantime, and played exceptionally well.

Personally I found the Chausson unrewarding material. Fisher played well technically, but somehow the performance failed to transcend the everyday. The Ravel was better, but I would have preferred a far more willful and quasi-improvisatory approach in the big opening solo.

A packed hall (extra seats laid down every available aisle, and with people sitting on the balcony steps and standing at the back) clamoured for an encore - but Jurowsky famously never plays encores, and "sent them home wanting more".   Moscow's premiere orchestra now at last has a conductor worthy of the podium - time will tell if Jurowsky can return the Svetlanov Orchestra to its glory days of the 1970s, and make it the world-beating orchestra it once was.

Meanwhile news reaches us that Jurowsky père - Mikhail Jurowsky - is to conduct the Bolshoi's revival of THE FIERY ANGEL in February.  This can only be welcome news, after decades of second-raters beating time on Okhotny Ryad.  M Jurowsky is MD in Berlin, but is flying in specially to conduct the work.  With younger brother Dmitry Jurowsky now running the Russian Philharmonia (in addition to his duties as MD at the Antwerp Opera), it's looking increasingly like a Jurowsky royal flush in Moscow...

(http://t1.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/02/69/20/110_F_2692099_2H9NXY45Tz0s78VW2YZEFlHRxT0NtP.jpg)

Gosudarstvenny Akademichesky Symphonichesky Orchestre - State Academic Symphony Orch


Title: Re: V Jurowski appointed as Chief Conductor of the Svetlanov Orchestra
Post by: guest377 on January 27, 2014, 04:52:58 am
Neil.. have you had the opportunity to visit the offices of the St. Petersburg Phil SO?  I hear they have CDs of past concerts including the performances of Zolotarev's Sym 1 and Festive OT/Fan on Jewish Themes??  They don't sell on the open market.. you have to go to either a performance or to the business office.


Title: Re: V Jurowski appointed as Chief Conductor of the Svetlanov Orchestra
Post by: Neil McGowan on January 27, 2014, 07:56:51 am
Hiya

In fact I rarely get to St Petersburg these days - which is pure laziness, since it's only a few hours on the high-speed train these days.

Of course, I know the Philharmonia there (and have performed there myself) - they often have disks on sale in the foyer before performances, indeed :)