In Sunday’s (9/14) New York Times, James Oestreich writes that Andris Nelsons calls it a “great honor, a great dream” to officially begin in his new position as the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s music director this season. “Nelsons (35) takes his place in a youth movement that has swept across American podiums in recent years, [including] Gustavo Dudamel (now 33) at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (39) at the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ludovic Morlot (40) at the Seattle Symphony and Alan Gilbert (44) at the New York Philharmonic…. Nelsons is the Boston Symphony’s 15th music director … [and] only the third director in more than four decades…. Only William Henschel, the founding director (in place from 1881 to 1884), and [Arthur] Nikisch (1889-93) were younger when they started…. Nelsons is, no question, a formidable talent… [The musicians] speak of his meticulous preparation and his obvious love for the music, calling it infectious and inspiring…. [BSO Managing Director Mark] Volpe speaks of ‘a childlike enthusiasm that is contagious.’ … Like one of his idols, Carlos Kleiber, he smiles a lot, radiating joy…. Nelsons’s musical gifts have been obvious and undeniable. To observe them more consistently and at closer hand, and watch them grow, should be — to use one of his favorite words — a joy.”
Posted September 15, 2014
Pictured: Andris Nelsons leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Marco Borggreve
