In Tuesday’s (1/5) Chicago Sun-Times , Andrew Patner reports, “When Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal flute Mathieu Dufour takes the stage Thursday night as a soloist for the first of a month of CSO concerts saluting the upcoming 85th birthday of conductor emeritus Pierre Boulez, there should be even more than the usual cheers for the popular musician. Just before a CSO rehearsal Tuesday morning, the internationally acclaimed Dufour, 37, who has been on leave playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic the last several months, told his CSO colleagues and Boulez that he would be remaining in Chicago. … Dufour played last season with the Philharmonic and Salonen on a lengthy Asian tour and at its Frank Gehry-designed Disney Hall. He took an unpaid leave for a part of this season to try things out with Dudamel. But he also played the CSO’s full Europe tour and Chicago dates with Haitink, is playing three weeks of programs with Boulez (including a tour this month to New York’s Carnegie Hall) and is still committed to the CSO’s all-Beethoven Festival, also with Haitink, in June.”
Posted January 7, 2010
