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Boston Symphony Orchestra Dismisses Music Director Andris Nelsons
On Friday the Boston Symphony Orchestra announced the sudden dismissal of its Music Director Andris Nelsons, whose tenure will end in summer 2027, following the orchestra's Tanglewood season.
Conductor Andris Nelsons. Photo by Marco Borggreve, courtesy Deutsche Grammophon.
According to multiple sources, Patrons and orchestra members received a letter from the orchestra's board and its CEO Chad Smith explaining that "the decision to not renew his contract was made by the BSO’s board of trustees because, beyond our shared desire to ensure our orchestra continues to perform at the highest levels, the BSO and Andris Nelsons were not aligned on future vision."
Nelsons has served as Music Director of the BSO since 2014.
Writing for the New York times, music critic David Allen ventured that "this has always seemed a plausible outcome since the Symphony appointed Chad Smith, a renowned innovator, to be its president and chief executive three years ago, even though Nelsons is an avowed traditionalist." Allen also said that "Nelsons, 47, has become one of the most unfortunate symbols of all that is irresponsible about the overstretched, overtired, overindulged modern music director." He cited Nelsons' other conducting duties, including his post as Music Director Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (a post he has held since 2018) and regular guest appearances with the Vienna Philharmonic.
The musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra stood firm with Nelsons, posting the following statement on Facebook: "We, the musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, support our beloved Music Director Andris Nelsons. We strongly oppose the decision by the Board of Trustees to end the appointment of Maestro Nelsons. The musicians believe in Andris’s vision for the future."
In a letter to colleagues (published Friday in the Boston Musical Intelligencer), Nelsons wrote that "the Board has decided that my music directorship will conclude in August 2027, with the aim of a mutually amicable final chapter. While this is not the decision I anticipated or wanted, I am unwaveringly committed to you and to our work together. I understand the decision was not related to artistic standards, performances, or achievements during my tenure, and, therefore, my focus is straightforward: to protect the music, support the orchestra’s stability, and continue to perform with the musicians of the BSO at the highest artistic level."
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