“The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra has been scrambling this week after news that conductor Thomas Zehetmair was suffering from ‘exhaustion and fatigue,’ ” writes Claude Peck in Friday’s (5/16) Star-Tribune (Minnesota). “Zehetmair is under doctor’s orders to withdraw from all travel and performing commitments until he recovers, said Stephen Sokolouski of the SPCO. Zehetmair was scheduled to lead concerts over the next three weekends to celebrate the centenary of British composer Benjamin Britten. The Britten festival begins Thursday at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, and will go on, but with changes to the program and players, as follows: Britten: String Quartet No. 2 (Steven Copes, Kyu-Young Kim, Maiya Papach, James Wilson); Britten: Lachrymae (Maiya Papach, viola and director); Haydn: Symphony No. 101, ‘Clock.’ The new program will be led by SPCO musicians. ‘Although it’s unfortunate that Thomas can’t be with us, we’re excited that our musicians are once again taking the lead on this weekend’s concerts, as the concerts that they have led this year have been some of the best of the season,’ said Sokolouski. Britten’s chamber opera The Turn of the Screw remains on the program for weekend two (May 23-25, at Ordway Center), but a new conductor has not yet been announced. The third weekend remains in flux.”
Posted May 16, 2014
