Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons gears up to head the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has already conducted two weekends of concerts at Tanglewood. His latest endeavor is not only an honor, but a valuable lesson in refining himself as an upcoming legend.
Perhaps it is an exercise in patience, but Nelsons' key facet is maintaining some semblance of humility and subservience to his orchestra. While he as a conductor may have some major experience under him, some of his counterparts have been with the same orchestra for much longer.
Some have even played under the great conductors and they know their traditions in the symphony. This is a virtue for young conductors like Andris, who is 35.
A quote in The New York Times from Mark Volpe, managing director of the Boston Symphony, said, "He understands that he's not a fully formed conductor yet."
He continued, "He has a wealth of experience and repertory for his age. But you're not done at 35."
And that's a lot to swallow as a young conductor coming into his own. He's also reintroducing special concentrations of Bruckner and Shostakovich, composers he feels have been seriously underplayed in recent times by the orchestra.
For Andris the new appointment should be the kind of assessment needed to really carve out his block. And for the upcoming season at the BSO under Andris, there should be some serious intensity in the coming shows.
In the meantime, check out Nelsons leading his first rehearsal in Boston below.
