Festival de Lanaudière | Kent Nagano: The eternal, and always welcome, return

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No need to be a contemporary sociologist or anthropologist to know that a powerful connection has been made between conductor Kent Nagano and the Quebec audience. Since his departure from the post of conductor of the OSM, he has returned several times, always to a warm audience that welcomes him like one of the family. This proximity, the American conductor had perceived, and felt the possibilities from the moment he arrived in Montreal. His strength is that he nestled into it naturally with authenticity. In return, Quebecers, even the least “classical”, the least intellectual, regularly drank in his public interventions, despite the calm, even slow, pace and lack of showmanship in his sentences. An interesting paradox in a society so infatuated with its comedians, its loud-mouthed and colorful popular figures. In short, each of his returns is anticipated. The one on August 1st at the Lanaudière Festival is no exception. With “his” former OSM, he will conduct a balanced program, without flamboyance, which will leave a lot of room for the Nagano style: the precise drawing of the symphonic discourse and the elegant blossoming of emotions. I discussed with the maestro of the program (Webern, Debussy, Brahms) and many other things, including his love for Quebec, during a very generous interview of about thirty minutes, conducted in English, even though, as we know, he speaks French. Question of fluidity. Such a beautiful interview that I didn’t dare “edit” it by removing elements. As a result, I suggest you listen to it in pieces, six in total, from the first question to the last. Happy listening.
DETAILS AND TICKETS FOR KENT NAGANO’S CONCERT IN LANAUDIÈRE

Question 1: Assessment of the last 10 years or so in Hamburg

Question 2: Upcoming projects

Question 3: How did he construct the program for the August 1st concert

Question 4: His vision of Brahms in light of historically informed performance

Question 5: What differences does he see between the OSM he left and the one he is now returning to?

Question 6: his vision of the warm relationship he maintains with Montreal and Quebec society in general