In Monday’s (1/31) Toronto Star, John Terauds writes, “Toronto Symphony Orchestra music director Peter Oundjian is taking on the leadership of the highly regarded Royal Scottish National Orchestra, starting with the 2012-13 season. Oundjian, who has a contract with the Toronto Symphony until the end of the 2013-14 season, says he has every hope of being able carry out both sets of musical responsibilities. The maestro’s first season in Scotland will be a short, six-week residency. This will increase gradually to eight weeks over the course of an initial, four-year contract. There are also plans for recordings and touring already in the works. Oundjian is committed to 12 weeks with the Toronto Symphony every year but says that he has spent as many as 16 weeks with the orchestra some years since taking over as music director in 2004. … In Scotland, Oundjian will replace French conductor Stéphane Denève, who is leaving the music director’s post at the end of the 2011-12 season. The Scottish orchestra’s CEO, Simon Woods, issued an enthusiastic statement on Monday, describing Oundjian as ‘a musician of enormous integrity whose performances are richly informed by his many years as a chamber musician.’ ”
Posted February 1, 2011
