Dresden (dpa / sn) - The Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (GMJO) will be performing under the direction of Herbert Blomstedt in the Dresden Frauenkirche at the end of August. The performance on August 29th in cooperation with the Staatskapelle Dresden is not only the traditional start of the Kapell season in the city on the Elbe, but also a "birthday serenade" for Blomstedt. Because this is a belated congratulations to the honorary conductor of the Staatskapelle on his 95th birthday (July 11). As the Dresden orchestra announced on Friday, Anton Bruckner's 7th symphony will then be on the programme. The GMJO, founded in the mid-1980s on the initiative of Claudio Abbado, is a partner of the Staatskapelle Dresden.
The events planned by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra for Blomstedt's birthday in the coming weeks have been canceled with one exception. It was said that Blomstedt had to recover from the consequences of a fall. The Gewandhaus had prepared a festival week for its former conductor. On the day of his birthday there was to be a thanksgiving service in the Thomaskirche in the presence of Blomstedt, and two days later there would be an evening of talks with the conductor. In addition, Blomstedt was to conduct two open-air concerts in the trade fair city. The Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki is now stepping in for him. A film about Blomstedt will be shown as planned on July 10th in the Gewandhaus.
