The Peripatetic Principal Conductor

[Dundonnell]

Whilst compiling my current lists I have been struck by a small number of conductors who in their careers have moved from orchestra to orchestra repeatedly.

I might have nominated the ubiquitous Neeme Jarvi as one of those but there are in fact three others who have an even more impressive list of orchestras:

Sergiu Comissiona(1928-2005):

Rumanian National Opera, 1955-1959
Haifa Symphony Orchestra, 1959-1966
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, 1967-1973
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 1969-1984
Houston Symphony Orchestra, 1980-1988
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, 1983-1989
RTVE Symphony Orchestra (Spain), 1990-1998
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, 1990-1994
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, 1991-2000

Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos (1933-2014):

Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, 1958-1962
Spanish National Orchestra, 1962-1978
Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra, 1966-1971
Montreal Symphony Orchestra, 1975-1976
Yomuiri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, 1980-1983
Vienna Symphony Orchestra, 1991-1996
Deutsches Oper, Berlin, 1992-1997
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, 1994-2000
Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, 2004-2011
Danish National Symphony Orchestra, 2012-2014

but, in pole position....

Edo de Waart(1941-):

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, 1973-1979
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, 1977-1985
Minnesota Orchestra, 1986-1995
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, 1989-1994
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, 1993-2003
Netherlands Opera, 1999-2004
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, 2004-2012
Santa Fe Opera, 2007-2009
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, 2009-2017
Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra, 2011-2016
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, 2016-

How does he do it ??? How can one run three orchestras simultaneously ???  And, after all, de Waart is in his mid 70s.

In 1933 when Hitler came to power in Germany only one conductor of a major German orchestra was over 60 (Bruno Walter at the Berlin State Opera). Furtwangler was 53, Knappertsbusch was 51. Others were mere youths.

[albert]

The late Rafael Fruebeck de Burgos, while first in Berlin, later in Dresden, was also principal in Turin (RAI NAtional Symphony) from 2001 to 2007.

[Dundonnell]

The late Rafael Fruebeck de Burgos, while first in Berlin, later in Dresden, was also principal in Turin (RAI NAtional Symphony) from 2001 to 2007.

Thanks for reminding me of that orchestra. I need to do some research on it.