“The eminent French composer-conductor Pierre Boulez, conductor emeritus of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, has withdrawn for health reasons from the announced February-March CSO residency he was initially scheduled to conduct and, later, curate here,” writes John von Rhein in Saturday’s (12/21) Chicago Tribune. “Boulez, 88, who lives primarily in Paris, has suffered debilitating physical problems in recent years, including a shoulder injury suffered in a fall. He underwent eye surgery several years ago that led to his cancelling various podium engagements including CSO residencies in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. The three young conductors Boulez had invited to join him during his winter CSO residency now will substitute for him in the two subscription programs he had originally planned to conduct. They are Matthew Aucoin, the current CSO Solti Conducting Apprentice; Marcelo Lehninger; and Cristian Macelaru. Macelaru also took over a week of concerts Boulez was to have directed here last season. The programs remain unchanged, comprising music by Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky. Boulez made his CSO conducting debut in 1969…. In 1995 … music director [Daniel] Barenboim named him principal guest conductor. … He has been conductor emeritus since 2006.”
Posted December 24, 2013
