Andris Nelsons Conducts CBSO in Dvorak New World

When James Levine recently announced his resignation as music director of the Boston Symphony the race was on to name a successor. In the short run, the management of the orchestra had to scramble to replace Levine in upcoming concerts. One young conductor summoned to help out immediately was Andris Nelsons. But he is also on the short list for the permanent post.

Nelsons is currently the music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), Simon Rattle's old orchestra. Nelsons is also very active as an opera conductor. He has appeared often at the Met.

If you warm to Rattle's vast range of facial expressions you may find Nelsons attractive too. Of course the audience doesn't see any of this but on a DVD or video this constant smiling and grimacing can be a bit wearing.

But back to the Boston Symphony. Nelsons recently took over a performance of the Mahler 9th at Carnegie Hall and the reviews were very good. Nelsons appears to be a contender.

In this video Nelsons conducts an excerpt from Dvorak's New World Symphony with the CBSO. The performance was given at the Proms in London last year.

- Paul E. Robinson