Who will get the Berliner Philharmoniker gig?

[Brian]

My favorite part of the process is finding a cruel parody Twitter account called "Fake Norman Lebrecht," who posts "as" Lebrecht in merciless ways:

"I don't know why I'm so excited about this. It seems like real news, but real journalists will cover it, so nobody cares what I think."

No matter how it comes out I am impressed with the process of the orchestra members voting instead of an management executive decision.

Totally agree! But I also understand that not every orchestra can do this, because while every conductor in the world (almost) would agree to lead the BPO at any salary, that's not true of every group...

[MishaK]

Totally agree! But I also understand that not every orchestra can do this, because while every conductor in the world (almost) would agree to lead the BPO at any salary, that's not true of every group...

That's hardly the reason why the process at other orchestras doesn't work the same way, though. 

[Brian]

Jörgen Camrath (Berliner Morgenpost) tweets:

Gleich 20 Uhr. Noch immer kein Ende der @BerlinPhil-Wahl in Sicht. Die Reihen lichten sich dennoch.
Ironie des Schicksals: Wir warten im Faradayweg und mein Akku ist gleich alle, keine Steckdose weit und breit.




Translation for Yankees: "no end in sight," voting may still be taking place, and also, the reporters don't have cell phone chargers.

[Gurn Blanston]

My favorite part of the process is finding a cruel parody Twitter account called "Fake Norman Lebrecht," who posts "as" Lebrecht in merciless ways:

"I don't know why I'm so excited about this. It seems like real news, but real journalists will cover it, so nobody cares what I think."

Totally agree! But I also understand that not every orchestra can do this, because while every conductor in the world (almost) would agree to lead the BPO at any salary, that's not true of every group...

I've been following his ever since I got on Twitter. He's funny. How is he less merciful than the real Norman Lebrecht? Or than Kim Kierkegardashian, as far as that goes... 

[Karl Henning]

. . . and also, the reporters don't have cell phone chargers.

Bloody amateurs.

[Brian]

Jörgen Camrath (Berliner Morgenpost) tweets:

Houston: Wir haben ein Ergebnis!
Die Spannung steigt...

[Brian]

No result. Voting to resume on another day.

Official BPO Twitter: "No result following today's election for new chief conductor of @BerlinPhil. More details soon."

[San Antone]

Houston: Wir haben ein Ergebnis!
Die Spannung steigt...

I'm glad it wasn't a "problem".

[Brian]

I'm glad it wasn't a "problem".

Poor Jörgen spoke too soon - they do have a problem, I fear. (See above)

[ritter]

According to the German press (here, for instance), they've apparently decided to postpone the election for another year. Internal diuscussions on who's the best candidate should continue until then. 

[North Star]

This will be a rather long thread by then.

"No news on the election of the chief conductor yet - disregard rumours! We will keep you posted."
From 6 hours ago, the last tweet on this subject from BerlinPhil.

[Brian]

I hope the nominees are all visiting this upcoming season. It would be funny to see how much they attempt to schmooze and charm the orchestra.

[ritter]

Hung election confimed on the BP's webpage: here

"The mood during the assembly was described by all participants as very constructive, cooperative and friendly." Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta 

[jlaurson]

Update from the Berlin Philharmonic below (The last sentence, presumably, means: Yelling, but no fist-fights) and at this link:

Voting for Chief Conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker Brings No Results
The voting for the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker brought no results today.

Orchestra Board member Peter Riegelbauer said: "After an orchestra assembly which lasted 11 hours, we have unfortunately come to no decision. There were positive and lively discussions and several rounds of voting, but unfortunately we were unable to agree on a conductor."

123 members of the orchestra who were eligible to vote were present.

Riegelbauer continued: "We must continue this process and this election. That will have to take place within one year. We are very confident that we will come to a decision then. The process of this election will be continued, and the orchestra assembly will meet regularly, but we will take the time that is necessary. That can last one year."

The mood during the assembly was described by all participants as very constructive, cooperative and friendly.
May 11, 2015


Fresh from Forbes:



MAY 9, 2015 @ 7:30 PM
The Berlin Philharmonic's Next Conductor: The Odds And Ends

It's a slightly smaller community that cares, but for them it's like electing the pope:
The Berlin Philharmonic is getting together to choose their chief conductor and only
the plume of smoke will missing when they announce the result on Monday. Here's
some rampant speculation as to what that result will be...

[Pat B]

According to the German press (here, for instance), they've apparently decided to postpone the election for another year. Internal diuscussions on who's the best candidate should continue until then. 

Tom Service mentioned this as a possibility (and made a decent case for it).

[MishaK]

A bit speculative but probably not too far off the mark:

http://klassiker.welt.de/2015/05/11/kein-rauch-berliner-philharmoniker-brechen-chefdirigenten-wahl-ab/#more-112

Eine wirkliche Überraschung ist das nicht. Nachdem viele der vom Orchester freilich unbestätigten Kandidaten (darunter Andris Nelsons, Mariss Jansons, Gustavo Dudamel und Yannick Nézet-Séguin) durch Neuengagements und Vertragsverlängerungen signalisiert hatten, dass sie lieber nicht zur Verfügung stehen würden, war vermutlich um die Person Christian Thielemanns ein (noch) nicht zu schlichtender Streit ausgebrochen. Der deutsche Dirigent hat starke Befürworter, die genau wissen, dass sie ihn nur jetzt durchsetzen können, denn als übernächster Chefdirigent der Berliner wäre er dann wohlmöglich schon wieder zu alt. Aber auch die Fraktion seiner Gegner scheint groß, jedenfalls so mächtig, dass die erforderliche "deutliche Mehrheit", die die Statuten vorsieht, in den Wahlgängen nicht erreicht wurde. Und für einen Kompromisskandidaten war es offensichtlich noch zu früh.

Translation:

"It is not really a surprise. Since several of the admittedly unconfirmed candidates (including Andriss Nelsons, Mariss Jansons, Gustavo Dudamel and Yannick Nézet-Séguin) signaled their unavailability via new engagements and contract extensions, an (as of yet) irresolvable fight broke out over Christian Thielemann. The German conductor has strong supporters, who know for certain that they can only push him through now, because he is probably going to be too old by the time he were to become the subsequent music director. But the group of his opponents likewise seems strong, in any case powerful enough that the required "clear majority" required by the statutes could not be reached in today's voting rounds. And for a compromise candidate it was apparently too early."

Btw, the Tom Service piece linked by Pat B above led me to this fine piece by BPO horn Fergus McWilliams: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/03/simon-rattle-hornist-berlin-philharmonic-london-symphony-orchestra

[Ken B]

A bit speculative but probably not too far off the mark:

http://klassiker.welt.de/2015/05/11/kein-rauch-berliner-philharmoniker-brechen-chefdirigenten-wahl-ab/#more-112

Translation:

"It is not really a surprise. Since several of the admittedly unconfirmed candidates (including Andriss Nelsons, Mariss Jansons, Gustavo Dudamel and Yannick Nézet-Séguin) signaled their unavailability via new engagements and contract extensions, an (as of yet) irresolvable fight broke out over Christian Thielemann. The German conductor has strong supporters, who know for certain that they can only push him through now, because he is probably going to be too old by the time he were to become the subsequent music director. But the group of his opponents likewise seems strong, in any case powerful enough that the required "clear majority" required by the statutes could not be reached in today's voting rounds. And for a compromise candidate it was apparently too early."

Btw, the Tom Service piece linked by Pat B above led me to this fine piece by BPO horn Fergus McWilliams: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/03/simon-rattle-hornist-berlin-philharmonic-london-symphony-orchestra

I just want to note for the record that no-one born when Thielemann was born can ever be called too old. Ever.

[king ubu]

I know I'm not supposed to discuss his haircut, but even if you're as old (darn effin' old!) as he is, he does his best to look several generations older 

[North Star]

I just want to note for the record that no-one born when Thielemann was born can ever be called too old. Ever.

Dad always says Thielemann turned old six months ago.

I know I'm not supposed to discuss his haircut, but even if you're as old (darn effin' old!) as he is, he does his best to look several generations older 

Yes, it does seem like he's compensating for not making it for either war. 

[Jo498]

I have seen a picture of Thielemann in his early 20s rehearsing with Karajan. He sported something like a Prince-Valiant-Cut then and I tend to think the actual style is an improvement.