Alan Gilbert gets a new job

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Alan Gilbert's New Appointment brings him back to Hamburg. It should be a mutually happy tenure - all the signs are there, at least.


Latest on Forbes.com:

New York-Hamburg: Alan Gilbert's New Orchestra And His Architectural Upgrade

[Parsifal]

He tried to do great things in New York, where they didn't want to do great things. Based on the one time I heard him live in New York, he doing a beautiful job.

[PerfectWagnerite]

He's got big shoes to fill in Hamburg. That was Gunter Wand's orchestra with a long and distinguished history and some fine chief conductors.

[Parsifal]

He's got big shoes to fill in Hamburg. That was Gunter Wand's orchestra with a long and distinguished history and some fine chief conductors.

Fortunately, he's got big feet.

[Pat B]

He tried to do great things in New York, where they didn't want to do great things.

I think that depends on whether the organization genuinely wanted Salonen. Clearly the press and fans did.

I do like Van Zweden, saw him a couple of times in Dallas, but can't deny that his programming there was conservative. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out for the NYPO.

Anyway, congratulations to Gilbert on the Hamburg position. With their new hall that seems like a very plum gig.

[mc ukrneal]

He tried to do great things in New York, where they didn't want to do great things. Based on the one time I heard him live in New York, he doing a beautiful job.

I have exactly the opposite impression, less about the programming, and more about the conducting.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

He tried to do great things in New York, where they didn't want to do great things. Based on the one time I heard him live in New York, he doing a beautiful job.

I would actually say that he succeeded in New York, in many ways. He may just have dragged the orchestra into the 21st century. And that's from having arguably been the most conservative of the "Big Five" + LA.
But yes, I think the return to Hamburg is very good for both; he'll be able to do much more, programming wise (it's the mission of a radio symphony orchestra, after all, to be adventurous... even if they sometimes forget it.)