OC's dear Uncle Solly -- better known by the general public as Yuri Temirkanov -- has been named Music Director of Teatro Regio di Parma.
The 69-year-old Russian maestro will begin his five year term in January 2009. He will be in charge of the Verdi bicentennial of 2013.
What, you ask yourself, a Russian in the middle of Verdi Country? Judging by his Traviata last year in Parma -- OC was there and you weren't -- not only Parma has hired one of the greatest conductors out there, but also a wonderfully sensitive Verdi conductor.
Mad propsicles to Parma General Manager Mauro Meli who has hired, with the limited public funds available for his small jewel of a theater, one of the few giants left out there. World class, really: as of today Parma, despite its lean budget (incredibly lean when compared to other theaters in Italy and elsewhere in Europe), automatically becomes one of the big players of the opera world out there.
We are so excited by this it isn't even funnay (Parma is just an hour outside of Milan). Especially in light of the fact that la Scala sees fit to hire Carlo Montanaro to conduct Verdi (a "reckless gamble" according to Corriere della Sera) having Temirkanov right around the corner is really a blessing, whenever we're jonesing for some seriously bada$$ Verdi.
I just saw the good news on the Parma website - I was hoping he was going to be conducting the Rigoletto. Beautiful town, beautiful theatre and now a great conductor. And this year's Verdi Festival looks so inviting.. damn I'm going to have to continue working to pay for all those tickets.
Posted by: Willym | June 13, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Benissimo, Temirkanov is one excellent choice.
Posted by: Paolo M. | June 13, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Good for La Scala that he's gonna be close enough so he can conduct occasionally there b/c the level of conductors in La Scala (apart from Barenboim and Chailly) is appalling...
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Still shocked that Tim Russert died :-(
Posted by: dze | June 14, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Good news. Temirkanov is a great conductor. But Parma is notorious for its
difficult audience. It should be interesting
to see what happens.
Also, Temirkanov is not actally a Russian;
he is an ethnic Circassian from the Black
Sea region of the Caucasus.
Posted by: robert berger | June 14, 2008 at 05:05 PM