The Finn Steps In

Esa-Pekka Salonen to conduct 2017 MET Orchestra concert sat Carnegie Hall.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Esa-Pekka Salonen makes a point. Photo by Clive Barda.

The music landscape of New York City underwent another tectonic shift this week, as Carnegie Hall announced that the conductor of three performances by the MET Orchestra next season would be Esa-Pekka Salonen, taking the place of outgoing Metropolitan Opera music director James Levine James Levine for three scheduled concerts.

Metropolitan Opera Preview: Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Mozart’s Turkish delight will be James Levine’s last bow as music director.

by Paul J. Pelkonen

Ladder act: Steve Davislim as Pedrillo in the Met's 2008 revival of Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
Photo by Ken Howard © 2008 The Metropolitan Opera.

Under most circumstances, the revival of a relatively rare Mozart comedy at the Metropolitan Opera would be occasion for rejoicing. But thanks to an announcement made last week that James Levine would be retiring from the post of music director at the end of this season, this revival of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail ("The Abduction from the Seraglio") has a sense of the bittersweet.