Andris Nelsons conducts his last concert at Symphony Hall on Thursday, June 18 as music director of the CBSO.
His seven years here have been a time of heady music-making, a palpable love-affair between conductor, orchestra, and adoring audience.
When Andris first hit Birmingham he was still only in his 20s, and little-known in the world. Now he is closer to his 40s and a family man, and has become one of the world’s most sought-after conductors.
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He explains how much a part of this transformation has come from working with the CBSO.
"I was very young when I joined the CBSO family and the orchestra has been such an important part of my musical life,” he says.
“My aims and dreams when I first arrived in Birmingham were always to establish great musical and human chemistry with the orchestra and the audiences.
"Of course my aim consisted also of all the little dreams that have to do with sound quality, repertoire, recordings and touring, and continuing to the great quality that the orchestra has.
"As a musician and human being, one continues to hope that their dreams are a constant part of their life and are continually developing. And all these dreams and work is what allowed me and us to grow together!”
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Andris describes his first impressions of the CBSO, and what those impressions are now as he prepares to leave the “family”.
“The CBSO has always been a fantastic orchestra with a great atmosphere and attitude towards work and music.
"My first impression, when I was welcomed seven years ago, was of a very friendly and caring orchestra. During my stay, these wonderful qualities have never changed.
“As I leave the CBSO family, I believe that each single concert has helped us grow as a team. I feel extremely privileged to have worked with the orchestra and for having had the opportunity to establish a very deep understanding of each other.
"We have always been searching musically, enjoying our flexibility and musical sensitivity, and this all while keeping, as a solid base, the great qualities that traditionally belong to this great orchestra.”
But does Andris have any particular memories which stand out from his time with the orchestra?
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“I have to say that I have a great memory of every concert and every single rehearsal,” he explains.
“Everything we have built and experienced together with the players creates vivid pictures in my memory and I just can’t pick one or a few single moments.”
Andris and the CBSO have given some unforgettable performances of huge Romantic masterpieces and Wagner operas, and yet recently they also gave totally illuminating performances of two late Haydn symphonies. Is this a sign of the repertoire widening?
“I hope true passion from me and the CBSO, for all repertoire, has been seen in our programmes throughout the past seven years from Beethoven cycles, masterpieces by Haydn and Mozart, to contemporary works.
“With the orchestra, we are so proud to have presented several premieres, recently of course the 海角视频 premiere of Brett Dean’s Trumpet Concerto, 海角视频 premiere of Hans Abrahamsen’s Let Me Tell You with Barbara Hannigan (CBSO’s co-commission) and also if I may say, a personal highlight from my time, and a historical moment that I was privileged to have experienced with the CBSO, was performing Britten’s War Requiem at Coventry Cathedral.
"We brought this extraordinary music also on tour in Europe and to the BBC Proms in 2014. For me, there have been many wonderful moments in a great range of repertoire - the CBSO are so great and versatile! “
Andris explains how the transition from Birmingham to Boston, where Andris is now principal conductor, has been.
“This is the end of my first season with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and it has been a very exciting one,” he enthuses.
“ Boston, as Birmingham, has been very supportive and welcoming from the beginning and the community made it very easy for me to adjust and focus on the music with the orchestra. It was a big decision indeed but I am of course excited for the future!”
Are there any similarities or, indeed differences between working with the CBSO and working with the BSO?
“CBSO and BSO are both extraordinary orchestras.
"They are both surrounded by a very strong community and engaged audiences, which enjoy and support the work that we do.
"Both orchestras perform in the finest concert halls: BSO in the historical Symphony Hall - a national Historic Landmark in the USA, and CBSO in the new younger Symphony Hall. It is certainly a privilege for both orchestras to reside in two homes with such acoustic and it allows us on stage to enjoy the music even more intensively.
“There are differences between the American and European audiences, but in both places they share the same passion and warmth. Both orchestras are great cultural ambassadors to their cities, for the extraordinary work in the 海角视频 and USA, and their high artistic standards all over the world. For this I feel very thankful and lucky.”
He concludes with a special farewell to us here waving him a regretful goodbye.
“My additional message is to the Birmingham community, to keep loving and supporting the CBSO and to keep coming more and more to these wonderful concerts!
"I would like to thank you all for the support shown to me and the whole team. There certainly is a very exciting future ahead for the CBSO, and I know everyone is looking forward to supporting this fantastic orchestra at this time of change. “