Philharmonia Orchestra: Esa-Pekka
Salonen becomes the new Principal Conductor and Artistic
Adviser
from 2008/9. (BK)
The Philharmonia Orchestra confirmed
today (21.11.2006) that Esa-Pekka Salonen will succeed
Christoph von Dohnányi as Principal Conductor. Salonen
will take up the position of Principal Conductor and Artistic
Advisor of the Philharmonia from the beginning of the
2008/9 season.
Planning already in place for 2008/09 leaves the Orchestra
confident that Salonen's appointment opens up new artistic
horizons, both for the Philharmonia and for its partners.
Salonen has previously collaborated with the Orchestra
on a range of pioneering projects that are still used
as benchmarks worldwide, from the award-winning Ligeti
project Clocks and Clouds to the first ever fully
interactive live orchestral audio-visual webcast, mounted
by the Philharmonia Orchestra in April 2005.
Esa-Pekka Salonen describes the appointment as a natural
development: "My relationship with the Philharmonia
began back in 1983 when I walked onto the Royal Festival
Hall platform to conduct Mahler's 3rd Symphony - the support
that the orchestra gave me that day was overwhelming and
unforgettable. We started a journey together then, building
a partnership by performing major projects together based
on the music of Ligeti, Lindberg, Lutoslawski and Berio.
The Philharmonia is a unique ensemble. It is flexible,
has immense commitment, energy, imagination and a spirit
of adventure that I find inspiring and with which I feel
at home. I am now very honoured to follow Christoph von
Dohnányi in leading this wonderful group of musicians."
The appointment has been warmly welcomed by the Philharmonia
Orchestra's current Principal Conductor Christoph von
Dohnányi, who has accepted the title of Honorary Conductor
for Life from the beginning of the 2008/09 season: "I
am pleased to give my warmest endorsement to Esa-Pekka
Salonen's appointment as Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia
Orchestra. I can think of no-one better suited to take
over the helm of this great orchestra, and look forward
to working closely with him to realise our shared ambitions
for the future."
David Whelton, Managing Director of the Philharmonia Orchestra,
paid tribute to Christoph von Dohnányi, and described
the appointment as both a dream and the very best possible
succession for the Orchestra: "I have taken such
pleasure in watching Christoph von Dohnányi explore and
re-define this orchestra’s great Austro-Hungarian roots
over the last 10 years. His explorations of the music
of Henze, Berio and Birtwistle sit alongside Salonen’s
Ligeti and Lindberg festivals as the artistic highpoints
of the last decade. I know that Christoph has always felt
that Salonen would be his natural successor.
On the day that Esa-Pekka Salonen signed his contract, we agreed
that the relationship between him and the Philharmonia
must be the longest courtship in history. I think it is
true to say that the Orchestra has been utterly captivated
by him ever since their extraordinary first collaboration
in 1983."
Alistair Mackie, Co-Principal Trumpet and Chairman of
the Philharmonia Orchestra added: "Esa-Pekka Salonen
is one of those rare conductors that encourages every
orchestral player to go to their limits in every single
performance. His combination of intelligence, musical
integrity and sheer physical presence makes him one of
the most exciting conductors to play for: his energy is
absolutely irresistible. In Salonen we know that we have
found a Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor that
shares not only our respect for tradition but our passion
for the new."
Partnership and cross-artform collaboration will be key
to Salonen's artistic approach. The central focus of his
opening season as Principal Conductor in 2008/09 will
be the launch of a major project exploring the cultural
influences of fin de siecle Vienna .
The appointment cements a relationship with the Philharmonia
Orchestra that dates back more than 20 years. The then
25 year old Esa-Pekka Salonen made his London conducting
debut in 1983, stepping in at the last minute for an indisposed
Michael Tilson Thomas to conduct a now-legendary performance
of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
He formed an immediate bond with the players, holding
the title of Principal Guest Conductor from 1983-1992.
He returns to London for three concerts from 9-19 December
2006, focusing on Mahler's Song Cycles; all three will
be recorded by BBC Radio 3 for future broadcast. On 19
December he will also be the first main evening conductor
to programme and lead one of the Orchestra's free pre-concert
Music of Today performances, conducting one of his own
chamber works, Memoria, as well as works by Lutoslawski,
Castiglioni and Donatoni.
Bill Kenny
