In Monday’s (2/13) Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein writes, “Conductor emeritus Pierre Boulez has withdrawn from his scheduled two weeks of appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Feb. 24-March 3 at Symphony Center. An orchestra spokeswoman said the conductor is canceling his appearances ‘on the advice of his ophthalmologist,’ but did not elaborate. Two conductors, each making his CSO podium debut, will replace Boulez, and the programs will remain unchanged. U.S.-based Romanian conductor Cristian Macelaru will lead a Beyond the Score presentation of Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’ Feb. 24 and 26. … British conductor Jonathan Nott will take over the CSO subscription concerts of March 1-3, when Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Ede’ will share the program with Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto. … Boulez, who will turn 87 in March, also dropped out of most of his engagements with the Cleveland Orchestra this month. He conducted only half of his scheduled program last week and was replaced on the second half by David Robertson. Tito Munoz is scheduled to conduct this week’s Cleveland concerts in Boulez’s stead.”
Photo by Todd Rosenberg
