In Tuesday’s (3/24) Gazette (Montreal), Arthur Kaptainis writes, “Promising no artistic compromises, Kent Nagano yesterday announced what he called an ‘even more creative’ MSO season, including a Mysteries of Japan program and a new work on an Olympic theme commissioned from the Canadian Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore. ‘Of course, I’ve had to be very sensitive to reduced budgets,’ the music director said. ‘But it doesn’t mean that we’re cutting back on anything that affects the standard of playing or the integrity of the OSM.’ Madeleine Careau, the orchestra’s chief executive, said the total number of concerts in 2009-2010, including those of a tour not yet announced, would be only two to four fewer than the tally this season. Musicians remain contracted for 46 weeks and no administration staffers have been laid off. … The accumulated deficit remains stable, if substantial, at about $2.6 million.” Programming highlights include a Beethoven festival featuring all nine symphonies, Lang Lang as soloist on Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and Valery Gergiev bringing the Maryinsky Orchestra to Place des Arts under the auspices of the MSO.
Posted March 26, 2009
Photo: Kent Nagano (left) conducting the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at their Festival Bel Canto in August.
Courtesy of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
