Barenboim cancels concerts: Representation in USA and Canada
Conductor Daniel Barenboim has once again had to cancel concerts due to illness. This time it affects the Staatskapelle Berlin's tour to Canada and the USA from November 25 to December 3. The 81-year-old conductor will be replaced by Giedrė Šlekytė, Jakub Hrůša and Yannick Nézet-Séguin for the planned concerts with the celebrated orchestra, as the Staatsoper Unter den Linden announced on Friday.
"I was very much looking forward to returning with this tour, but my health simply does not allow me to undertake the strenuous transatlantic travel and the many domestic trips required for this tour," Barenboim wrote, combined with "great regret".
As General Music Director of the Staatsoper, Barenboim also took over the Staatskapelle in 1992, which gained an international reputation under his direction. His opera contract was originally due to run until 2027. However, he handed over the musical direction of the Staatsoper at the beginning of the year due to ill health. In 2000, the Staatskapelle had elected him chief conductor for life - this is now only an honorary position.
His successor will be Christian Thielemann, who will join the Berlin orchestra as General Music Director for the 2024/2025 season.
The Staatskapelle's tour starts on November 25 and 26 in Toronto under the direction of conductor Šlekytė. On November 28, Hrůša will make his debut with the orchestra in Chicago. Nézet-Séguin will conduct the concerts in New York on November 30 and December 1 and in Philadelphia on December 3.
Despite the cancellation, many people still look forward to experiencing the Staatskapelle Berlin's performances in theaters across Canada and the USA. The change in conductors for the tour, including Giedrė Šlekytė, Jakub Hrůša, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, ensures that classical music lovers can still enjoy the celebrated orchestra's performances, albeit under different leadership.
Source: www.dpa.com
