Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
share
email
font size
options
 
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Riccardo Muti, Memory and Musical Baggage

Riccardo Muti and the New York Philharmonic swept through the Northeast recently. We heard them at the Kimmel Center Friday night and had a response much like the ones we've had before.

The same program was performed in DC and NY. Anne Midgette writes in the Washington Post that Muti made the ensemble "glow like a teenage girl in love." Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times says "Mr. Muti is a major musician," and had these thoughts.

It would be nice to have Muti guest conducting again with his old orchestra in Philadelphia. Maybe some of the dinner conversation Friday night touched on that; after the concert, friends took Muti to Girasole, his old haunt (albeit in a new location).

The Muti fan club in Philadelphia is alive and well. It was clear the audience would love to have him back. I don't get all gushy on the subject of Muti the way others do, but you can add my vote, too.

Readers? What do you think?

 

Posted by Peter Dobrin @ 2:09 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
Comments   
Posted 11:46 PM, 11/23/2009
SupportTheArtsInPhilly
"Have him back" in what way? As a guest, maybe. But judging from Friday's concert, Muti still has no idea what to do with American orchestras. And evidently, he has not expanded his repertoire much since we last saw him here back in the mid 80's. Good luck, Chicago... don't say the folks in Philly and Milan didn't warn you.
Posted 11:32 PM, 11/24/2009
phlmaestro
I'm on record from another recent discussion on here as not having been a big Muti fan in the past, but thinking he is probably a better conductor today than he was in his Philadelphia years based on the few things I've heard from him in recent years. I'd be happy to have him guest conduct here (although a lot of his programming leaves something to be desired, at least in part because it's often so repetitive). Any sort of deeper relationship is likely out of the question at this point. Even if it weren't, I'm not sure reaching back in that direction would be the best thing for the Orchestra, although it would likely help at the box-office.
Posted 10:27 AM, 11/25/2009
Thornhill
I'd much rather have him come back to guest conduct a concert or two each year instead of Eschenbach.
Comment removed.
Posted 03:11 PM, 11/25/2009
salazar
He would definitely sell out a series. The question is does he have the time or the inclination to return. His last PO appearance came about via some intense cajoling from friendly players from his past. Could they impose on him once more for the sake of the orchestra's bottom line? Also in passing has Muti ever expressed his like or dislike of conducting in Verizon Hall?
Posted 12:30 PM, 11/28/2009
brichpmr
Muti had not conducted the Chicago Symphony for 30+ years, but a triumphant European tour in 2007 set the stage for this new and intriguing partnership. They already love him in Chicago, and the CSO is at the top of its game, thanks to Haitink's stewardship. It would be great to have Muti periodically come back to Philly.
Posted 11:02 PM, 12/02/2009
The Other George W.
I wouldn't advise anyone to hold their breath concerning Muti returning as a guest conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Once he starts in Chicago, the informal rule that music directors of "Big Five" orchestras do not guest-conduct other Big Five orchestras kicks in. Of course, if he continues to guest-conduct the New York Philharmonic in seasons after this (i.e. 2010-2011 and beyond), then I am happily proved wrong. Somehow, though, methinks not.
7 comments
About Peter Dobrin

Peter Dobrin is a classical music critic and culture writer for The Inquirer. Since 1989, he has written music reviews, features, news and commentary for the paper, covering such topics as expansions for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra's 64-day strike in 1996, the emergence of a new performing arts center in Philadelphia, changes in the classical-recording industry and the general health of arts and culture.

Dobrin was a French horn player. He earned an undergraduate degree in performance from the University of Miami, and received a master's degree in music criticism from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Elliott Galkin. He has no time to practice today.

Advertise Here