On Thursday (6/12) at WQXR’s blog, Brian Wise reports that Lorin Maazel, “the 84-year-old former music director of the New York Philharmonic, said in a statement on Wednesday that, because of health reasons, he is stepping down immediately from his post as music director of the Munich Philharmonic, a year before his contract with the orchestra was set to expire.” Maazel was music director of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1972 to 1982, and music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony from 1988 to 1996. “Maazel did not specify the nature of his difficulties but said doctors have told him that he may take on ‘occasional appearances’ next season. The statement comes two days after Maazel cancelled performances at Japan’s Pacific Music Festival, from July 25 to August 6…. He has also missed two Munich Philharmonic dates at Carnegie Hall in March, followed by appearances with the Boston Symphony (including an Asian tour) in April and May, and Berlin Philharmonic concerts earlier this month. Maazel remains scheduled to conduct Puccini’s Madama Butterfly on June 28 at the Castleton Festival, a summer concert series and training academy that he runs on his Virginia estate.”
Posted June 12, 2014
