Unprompted, Lorin Maazel Nominates His Successor 
               
 
By DANIEL J. WAKIN
Published: November 29, 2006
Music directors of major orchestras don’t usually get to name their successors, but Lorin Maazel of the New York Philharmonic has a suggestion.

Speaking at an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, Mr. Maazel let drop that earlier in the day he had written a letter to the orchestra’s board putting forth a name. He said he supposed those in the room were curious who it was. He paused dramatically. The room was hushed.

“Daniel Barenboim,” Mr. Maazel said.

He said that Mr. Barenboim, who ended his tenure as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last June, had all the right qualities: a large repertory, administrative abilities, “reliable” conducting technique, in-depth musicianship and the “psychological maturity” to deal with 100 sophisticated, accomplished musicians.

Mr. Maazel’s contract with the orchestra runs through the 2008-9 season, but it is by no means early to be thinking about a successor in the classical music world, where careers are mapped out years ahead.

“I began to think of the challenge to find someone, actually, at short notice,” Mr. Maazel said during an interview after making his comments. “It’s my way of saying, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, sit up and take notice.’ ”

Referring to the orchestra’s board, he said: “If they haven’t made up their minds, maybe I could put forth” a suggestion. He acknowledged that it was highly unusual for a music director to try to influence the choice of his successor. “But this is somewhat different,” he said, given the orchestra’s high caliber and his affection for it. “I’m bonded with this orchestra.” He likened the situation to “giving a daughter to marriage.”

Mr. Barenboim, a conductor of international stature, has surely been on the orchestra search committee’s radar, as Mr. Maazel acknowledged. “He’s one of the most visible people,” Mr. Maazel said.

Mr. Maazel said he did not wish to suggest that the board was dragging its feet, but that a choice should be made soon. “They may have an ace up their sleeve,” he said. He also said he had not consulted with Mr. Barenboim beforehand.

Mr. Barenboim could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. There was no answer at his home in Berlin, and David Foster, his manager at ICM Artists, said he could not reach him either.

Mr. Maazel spoke at a press lunch to announce an international tour by the Rome-based Symphonica Toscanini, where he is music director for life. His comments appeared to catch the Philharmonic’s management by surprise.

His recommendation came in a private letter addressed to the Philharmonic’s board chairman, Paul B. Guenther, and would not be released, Eric Latzky, the orchestra’s spokesman, said. Mr. Guenther was out of the country and could not be reached, Mr. Latzky added.

He said that the selection of a future music director was on the “front burner.”

“Several discussions have taken place among the members of the search committee,” Mr. Latzky said. “Progress is being made. At this moment, the process is proceeding in an orderly and a timely way.” Mr. Latzky declined to discuss possible candidates, not unusual for orchestras searching for music directors. Often candidates make guest appearances. This year’s guest conductors at the Philharmonic include David Robertson, Alan Gilbert, Riccardo Muti and Esa-Pekka Salonen. The Chicago and Detroit symphonies and the Philadelphia Orchestra are among other major ensembles also competing for music directors.

Mr. Latzky said that the musicians of the orchestra admired Mr. Barenboim, mostly on the basis of his one appearance with them since 1990, on May 18, 2004. He pointed out that Mr. Barenboim had said that he did not want the responsibilities of another music directorship.

But Mr. Barenboim is also an old friend and colleague of the Philharmonic’s president, Zarin Mehta, dating at least to Mr. Mehta’s days running the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony.

Mr. Barenboim is the general music director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin and is the main guest conductor at La Scala opera house in Milan. He also leads the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which he helped found to bring young Arab and Israeli musicians together.