Nov 22, 2008 10:49 am US/Eastern
Miffed Maestro Withdraws From Mass. Concerts
BOSTON (AP) ―
An eminent Russian conductor has pulled out of a run of concerts he was scheduled to conduct with the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, saying he felt insulted by the way his appearances were marketed.
The Boston Globe reported that
Gennady Rozhdestvensky was headed back to Moscow on Saturday, fuming over the disrespect he said the BSO showed him.
The 77-year-old maestro was scheduled to conduct four concerts, starting Thursday and running through Tuesday.
Rozhdestvensky said the trouble started when he noticed the week's soloist, cellist Lynn Harrell, got top billing on a promotional poster.
He later learned the BSO's season brochure didn't list him in its "Distinguished Conductors" section, mentioning him only in connection with Harrell.
The BSO's managing director, Mark Volpe, said the orchestra greatly admires Rozhdestvensky and regrets he canceled his concerts.
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