“Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, 32, became music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and its choruses, in 2016,” writes Fiona Maddocks in Saturday’s (3/23) Guardian (U.K.). “Since then she has thrilled audiences around the world, in Birmingham and beyond…. [In addition to] the quality of her music-making … no one could ignore the fact of her being a woman in a top orchestral post…. Much has changed even in the short time Mirga has been in Birmingham. Elim Chan has been appointed principal guest conductor at the Royal Scottish National Orchestra…. Karina Canellakis takes over as chief conductor of the Nederlands Radio Philharmonic later this year [joining] established figures such as Jane Glover, Marin Alsop and Simone Young. Mirga knows it’s still a question of perception. ‘A slightly old-fashioned lady said to me the other day, “but there are so many women conductors now”! And of course there are. The floodgates have opened …’ [says Gražinytė-Tyla].… Birmingham will have a song festival on 9 June, with the CBSO’s choirs.… ‘[Singing together] creates an amazing feeling of unity,’ Mirga reflects…. ‘It’s what everyone in Britain should do right now. Sing. Not in their thousands. In their millions.’ ”
Posted March 25, 2019
