Blogosphere: Recording contract for Nézet-Séguin

This article was originally posted on Inquirer music critic Peter Dobrin's blog, Arts Watch. Find it at www.philly.com/artswatch.

As mentioned by The Inquirer in January, incoming Philadelphia Orchestra music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will be recording with Deutsche Grammophon. The label officially announced the "long-term collaboration" Thursday.

Nézet-Séguin is slated to make three DG recordings with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, of which he is music director, starting with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6, "Pathétique." Seven Mozart operas are also scheduled, beginning with a September release of the conductor and Mahler Chamber Orchestra in Don Giovanni.

"One constant factor throughout the [Mozart] series will be the presence of Rolando Villazón in all the lead tenor roles," says the announcement. "Villazón conceived the idea of the cycle after performing in last year's Don Giovanni, and he and Yannick will be acting as joint artistic consultants for the entire project."

What about recordings with a certain U.S. ensemble Nézet-Séguin takes over in October? DG's announcement makes no mention of recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra, though the conductor said previously that such projects were in the future.

A Philadelphia Orchestra spokeswoman said there were no confirmed plans for recordings with DG.

But, she said, "as Yannick begins his tenure with the orchestra, we will be exploring all possible opportunities available to capture this great musical partnership."