It already has the finest balance in its team of house conductors, and fortunately - though few are more sought after worldwide - Vladimir Jurowski and Yannick Nézet-Séguin have pledged to extend their contracts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Since taking up his post as the LPO's Principal Conductor at the beginning of the 2007-8 season, Russian-born Jurowski has led the most inspiring programming on the London scene for decades, stretching his players and the orchestra's box office potential in unusual repertoire including a festival focus on the works of Alfred Schnittke last autumn. If next season's works err on the side of relative safety, they're both essential to the core repertoire and should benefit from his fresh eye (a recent CD release of two Brahms symphonies confirms that). He's now staying on at least until the 2014-15 season.
Canadian Nézet-Séguin has wowed the critics, Edward Seckerson among them, with his astonishingly mature and alive Bruckner interpretations. Another vivid communicator, he, too, will bring more young listeners to the LPO's fast-changing audience demographic. Having held the post of Principal Guest Conductor since September 2008, he'll be here in London until at least 2013-14.
London, and for that matter the rest of the UK, has never had it better with its musical supremos, nor the audiences willing to come and hear them, and that looks likely to continue, at least at the LPO.
Canadian Nézet-Séguin has wowed the critics, Edward Seckerson among them, with his astonishingly mature and alive Bruckner interpretations. Another vivid communicator, he, too, will bring more young listeners to the LPO's fast-changing audience demographic. Having held the post of Principal Guest Conductor since September 2008, he'll be here in London until at least 2013-14.
London, and for that matter the rest of the UK, has never had it better with its musical supremos, nor the audiences willing to come and hear them, and that looks likely to continue, at least at the LPO.
- Check out theartsdesk's take on the Southbank 2010-11 season
- Take a look at the LPO's website
