Classical Music Scandal

Longtime Houston Symphony conductor heckled and booed for lame Mozart: No love for Eschenbach

Christoph Eschenbach

For loyal classical music patrons in the Bayou City, longtime Houston Symphony maestro Christoph Eschenbach is something of a revered celeb whose mere walking on stage elicits standing ovations even prior to the sounding of a single note.

That's just what happened in his last appearance at Jones Hall.

But not so in Europe. Not so with one of the most respected orchestras in the world. Not so this week.

Eschenbach was booed at the Wednesday opening night of Mozart's Così fan tutte with the Vienna Philharmonic, which he led as part of the Salzburg Festival in Austria. The conductor was described as "sloppy and incoherent" with "no sense of dynamics" (Salzburger Nachrichten) and "unacceptable" (Kultur Haute).

The news is depressing for locals who think of Eschenbach with high regard.

Commenters on the classical music blog Slipped Disc blamed festival artistic director Alex Pereira for allowing Eschenbach to arrive only three days before curtain call. The Patrick Stewart look alike had been on tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra, whose schedule conflicted with the opera buffa's rehearsals.

One reader who identifies him or herself as a former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra writes that the 73-year-old "was never prepared and lead very inefficient and completely disorganized rehearsals, insisting on some things at the rehearsal, and having us repeat them over and over, only to do exactly the opposite at the performance that evening, without even a comment to the concertmaster or to any of the section principals [sic]."

The news is depressing for locals who think of Eschenbach in high regard. Negative testimonials can deflate the morale of diehard fans who take descriptions such as these personally, particularly if they consider Eschenbach a point of pride in the history of the Houston Symphony, the importance of classical music and the value of fine arts in general in Houston.

It's like telling someone their baby is ugly.

But heroes fall — all the time — in the eyes of those who fail to remember that heroes are people, imperfect in all their glory.

Or maybe European critics are a bunch of douches. You decide.

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Thanks, Tommy

Houston-born Broadway legend donates 50,000 item personal collection to UH

Courtesy of University of Houston

Tommy Tune has received 10 Tony Awards.

Broadway legend Tommy Tune and his sister Gracey have made a major gift to the University of Houston, ensuring that the star's larger-than-life legacy will be available for scholars and students for generations to come. The Tony Award-winning actor, choreographer, and director has given a collection of costumes, scripts, design sketches, choreography notes, photos and personal letters to the university.

More than 50,000 items in all, the collection captures the creative spirit of Broadway in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s and provides a window into how iconic productions were conceived, staged, and experienced. Tune, a native Houstonian who earned his master's degree in directing from UH in 1964, has been one of Broadway's luminaries for decades, helming the original production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Nine, and more. He is the first person to win Tony Awards in four different categories, and the only person in Tony Awards history to win the same categories in consecutive years, taking home best choreography and best directing in 1990 and 1991. He is also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.

He starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1969 film Hello, Dolly!

“The University of Houston felt like the natural home for it because it’s where my story truly began,” Tune said. “This collection represents my life in musical theater, and I want it to inspire the next generation of artists in the city that first inspired me.”

The collection is housed in the UH Archives in the MD Anderson Library. Tune's sister Gracey noted that her brother's extraordinary career is part of theater history.

“You don’t win nine Tony Awards in so many facets of the craft — and a 10th for Lifetime Achievement — without shaping the era itself,” she said. “This collection covers every corner of his Broadway life, and many of his creations still live on stages around the world.”

The gift means that current and future generations of students and researchers will have access to remarkable items and letters.

“This collection is a significant contribution to the study of theater history, particularly musical theater,” said University of Houston Archivist Mary Manning. “It will be invaluable to students, performers, filmmakers and researchers who want to explore Tune’s creative process, reconstruct productions or gain cultural context for the works he directed and performed in.”

Tune's connections to Houston run deep. TUTS' annual Tommy Tune Awards are named for the star, and recognize excellence in high school musical theater.

Tune expressed gratitude for the university and acknowledged that donating these pieces of his life and work represent a full-circle moment.

“The University of Houston has an energy and creative spirit that matches everything this collection represents,” Tune said. “If my life’s journey can help even one young artist see a bigger future for themselves, it will be the perfect encore.”

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