STORY AND LINKS: Philadelphia Orchestra chooses young music director

By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily News

The Philadelphia Orchestra has joined the ranks of American orchestras naming young music directors by choosing Yannick Nézet-Séguin, a 35-year-old Canadian, to take over as the eighth music director of the the famed ensemble beginning in 2012. He replaces Charles Dutoit, who has been the orchestra’s Chief Conductor for several years following the acrmonious departure of Christoph Eschenbach as music director in 2008. Dutoit will be named Conductor Laureate.

Philadelphia joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic (now being led by 29-year-old Gustavo Dudamel) and the New York Philharmonic (now under the baton of 43-year-old Alan Gilbert) as orchestras with young maestros at their helms. The Cleveland Orchestra began the trend when it named then-42-year-old Franz Welser-Most as its music director beginning with the 2002-2003 season.

Nézet-Séguin has led Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal since 2000 and in 2008 became music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He made a highly successful debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in March, 2009 (LINK)

As is the case with popular conductors, Nézet-Séguin cannot take up his new post immediately. According to Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer, in 2010-11, as music-director-designate, Nézet-Séguin will conduct two weeks. In 2011-12, the number of weeks will increase to five. In his first season as music director, 2012-2013, Nézet-Séguin will lead up to seven weeks of concerts. In his second and third seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15) he will conduct 15 weeks. He will conduct 16 weeks of concerts in his fourth and fifth seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17).

Read more:
• Peter Dobrin in the Philadelphia Inquirer HERE
• Daniel J. Wakin in the New York Times HERE
• Anne Midgette in the Washington Post HERE
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(c) Copyright 2010, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.