According to the BSO press office, conductor Andris Nelsons is cancelling his forthcoming appearances on January 5, 6, and 7, in order to be with his wife in preparation for the imminent arrival of their first-born child. BSO Assistant Conductor Marcelo Lehninger has agreed to substitute with the proviso that Haydn’s Symphony No. 88 replace the previously scheduled Symphony No. 90. The balance of the program is unchanged: Turnage’s From the Wreckage, for trumpet and orchestra (American premiere) with Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet, and after intermission, Strauss’s Thus spake Zarathustra
Nelsons still intends to appear at Tanglewood this summer where he plans to lead both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in concerts July 14th through the 16th.
MARCELO LEHNINGER
Brazilian-born Marcelo Lehninger was appointed assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra by James Levine, Mr. Lehninger made his BSO debut in 2010 with violinist Pinchas Zukerman as soloist and in 2011 stepped in for Maestro Levine at short notice to conduct the world premiere of Harrison Birtwistle’s BSO-commissioned Violin Concerto with Christian Tetzlaff. Of his acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut with the BSO the New York Times’ Anthony Tommasini wrote, “He was terrific, conducting all three works with impressive technique, musical insight and youthful energy.” Maestro Lehninger’s next BSO appearances include a subscription night in the 2011-12 season with pianist Peter Serkin, his debut at Tanglewood in 2012 and a subscription week in the 2012-13 season.
Before dedicating his career to conducting, Mr. Lehninger studied violin and piano. He holds a master’s degree from the Conductors Institute at New York’s Bard College, where he studied conducting under Harold Farberman and composition with Laurence Wallach. In Brazil he studied with Roberto Tibiriçá, and he has also participated in master classes with Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin, Marin Alsop, Moche Atzmon, and Andreás Weiss.
A citizen of Brazil and Germany, Marcelo Lehninger is the son of pianist Sônia Goulart and violinist Erich Lehninger. He lives with his wife Laura and daughter Sofia in Boston, MA.
Interesting. His performance schedule was clear from Dec 4 through Jan 4, with rehearsals of course in advance of the Jan. 5 BSO concert, including an open rehearsal on the 4th. What was he thinking when he….? How late can his wife be that….?
Oh well. In retrospect, wasn’t this foreseeable?
BTW, there are lots of seats available for all three performances.
Comment by Bill — December 22, 2011 at 5:49 pm
It’s more understandable that Andris needed to be at his wife’s side for the conception….
Comment by experienced parent — December 22, 2011 at 6:30 pm
“BTW, there are lots of seats available for all three performances.”
Oh for a good ad campaign to fill those seats — something along the line of “Catch a rising star,” or “Will history be made again?”
Comment by Joe Whipple — December 22, 2011 at 10:06 pm
And what is the difference? I do not mean the demean Andris Nelsons or Marcelo Lehninger but from larger perspective none of them have any definitive and know take on Haydn or Strauss. So, it will be absolutely unknown and erratic play either with Nelsons or with Lehninger. So, good luck to Andris Nelsons with his wife project and good to Marcelo Lehninger that he has an opportunity to stand up. We do know that BSO soon will be sourcing conductor among high school marching bands from Madagascar, still I do not think that in this case the word “predictable” is applicable. It is predictable that with the boring programs we have lately the attendance drops and it is predicable that capable conductors do not fistfight for the opportunity to conduct BSO. Still, I do not think that we see more cancelling this season than any other seasons. Things happen and some artists do/did more cancelling then actual performances. I do not see any reason to say “another week, another BSO cancellation” in this particular case. The true cancelation takes/took place in diminishing amount of performances that most of you will attending this season. It did happen with me and it did happen with anyone I spoke with on the subject. I would LOVE to blame somebody like Andris Nelsons in it but I do not think that he is the guilty party….
Comment by Romy the Cat — December 22, 2011 at 11:15 pm