“The French cellist Blaise Déjardin, currently a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s cello section, has been named its next principal cellist,” writes Jeremy Eichler in Monday’s (4/2) Boston Globe. “Déjardin, 33, becomes the 14th cellist to hold this principal position in the orchestra’s history. He succeeds cello legend Jules Eskin, who held the position for 52 years until his death in 2016…. Déjardin was chosen from an initial pool of around 200 applicants. Among the audition committee were BSO cello section players who were not themselves auditioning for the position, other BSO principals from across the orchestra, and music director Andris Nelsons…. A native of Strasbourg, Déjardin joined the BSO in 2008. Prior to that, he was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester as well as a founding member of the Boston-based conductorless chamber orchestra A Far Cry. In 2010, along with three other BSO section players, he cofounded the Boston Cello Quartet. Déjardin’s start date as principal has not yet been announced, but … it will likely be this summer at Tanglewood. This type of position includes a one-year probationary period. The appointment also means that Déjardin will join the Boston Symphony Chamber Players.”
Posted April 5, 2018
