In Tuesday’s (8/23) Montreal Gazette, Arthur Kaptainis reports, “Yannick Nézet-Séguin is adding an extra week of conducting to his 2011 activities with the Philadelphia Orchestra—and isn’t charging for his time and trouble. ‘It’s a wonderful sign of his commitment to the Philadelphia cause,’ Philadelphia Orchestra CEO Allison Vulgamore said Monday. … Montreal-born Nézet-Séguin, who takes over as Philadelphia Orchestra music director in 2012, will be donating his services for the Verizon Hall concerts of Nov. 10, 11 and 12. The new program features a crowdpleasing mix of Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Verdi and Respighi. Nicholas McGegan, who was to have conducted Bach on those dates, has stepped aside. He will conduct the Bach program in 2013. Nézet-Séguin’s new Philadelphia work is in addition to three previously scheduled weeks in 2011-2012. He will also add two freebie weeks next season. … Charles Dutoit is completing his final year as chief conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.”
Posted August 24, 2011