Marin Alsop makes history once again this Thursday, October 24. Already the first woman to serve as the head of a major orchestra in the United States, South America and Britain, now she adds Austria to the list, when she inaugurates her tenure as the first female Chief Conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. To open the ensemble’s landmark 50th anniversary season, she leads a program pairing works by Hindemith with Rapture by her late friend and colleague, Christopher Rouse, and the world premiere of a new commission from award-winning Russian-American composer Lera Auerbach. Held at the Vienna Konzerthaus, where it will be recorded for a subsequent radio broadcast, the Opening Night kicks off the two weeks of concerts, masterclasses, talks and workshops that launch Alsop’s first Vienna RSO season. Showcasing the work of female composers and conductors with related educational initiatives, the orchestra’s 2019-20 programming reflects its new Chief Conductor’s pioneering role in the campaign for gender equality in music.
Looking ahead to her new tenure, Alsop says: “Vienna is a musical city like no other and was central to the careers of two of my idols – Mahler and Bernstein, both of whose compositions I have conducted with this orchestra and look forward to performing again this season. I am excited to get started with the Vienna RSO during its anniversary season and to work with these great musicians on a wide range of concert repertoire, including world premieres, as well as on recordings, tours and educational initiatives. It’s particularly meaningful to me to have the chance to work with emergent female conductors and conduct music by three terrific female composers.”
About Pulitzer- and Grammy-winning composer Rouse and his untimely death late last month, the conductor adds: “Chris Rouse’s passing is an enormous loss, both as an artist and a dear friend. I was able to spend time with him in his last weeks, and he was irreverent and profound, as always! I’ve been in love with his music since the 1990s; it grabs our hearts at the most fundamental, human core.”
Looking ahead to her new tenure, Alsop says: “Vienna is a musical city like no other and was central to the careers of two of my idols – Mahler and Bernstein, both of whose compositions I have conducted with this orchestra and look forward to performing again this season. I am excited to get started with the Vienna RSO during its anniversary season and to work with these great musicians on a wide range of concert repertoire, including world premieres, as well as on recordings, tours and educational initiatives. It’s particularly meaningful to me to have the chance to work with emergent female conductors and conduct music by three terrific female composers.”
About Pulitzer- and Grammy-winning composer Rouse and his untimely death late last month, the conductor adds: “Chris Rouse’s passing is an enormous loss, both as an artist and a dear friend. I was able to spend time with him in his last weeks, and he was irreverent and profound, as always! I’ve been in love with his music since the 1990s; it grabs our hearts at the most fundamental, human core.”
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