Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director Candidate

Next week, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra hosts our third Music Director candidate this season, Mei-Ann Chen.  One of the country’s most promising young female conductors, she is currently Assistant Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.  Prior to that, she was Assistant Conductor of Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  Mei-Ann will make her MSO debut conducting Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (now hum that one to yourself – you know it!).   

We asked Mei-Ann to tell us more about herself  through literature and music – and give us a few suggestions and comments as well! 

Mei-Ann’s reading list –

Music Reading:
Norman LEBRECHT  Who Killed Classical Music?
Alex ROSS    The Rest is Noise

Summer Reading:
June CHANG    Mao: The Unknown Story
Agatha CHRISTIE   The Murder at the Vicarage
AVALON Travel Series  Tennessee

Favorites:
Arthur CONAN DOYLE The Classic Mysteries of Sherlock Homes
Norman DEL MAR   Anatomy of the Orchestra
Lucy Maud MONTGOMERY Ann of Green Gables

Mei-Ann’s recording suggestions –

John ADAMS: The Chairman Dances  
1. San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart
Both the symphony and the conductor have very close ties to the composer, thus making this recording a definite choice.

2. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle

This recording has several other very important compositions by Adams, such as Harmonielehre and Short Ride in a Fast Machine

DVORAK: Cello Concerto
1. Jacqueline Du Pre with Chicago Symphony Orchestra

My absolute favorite cellist – the unique passion in her playing is unmatched by any performer.  Her few recordings were our only glimpses of a shorten career caused by multiple sclerosis that led to her premature death.

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 
1. Tonhalle Orchester Zurich conducted by David Zinman

There are so many recordings of this famous symphony available, so I thought to recommend one that stood out from the others.  I studied with Mr. Zinman at Aspen was fascinated by his interpretations of the Beethoven Symphonies which are probably the closest to the indications in the scores.

2. Beethoven Symphonies Box Set: Vienna Philharmoniker conducted by Simon Rattle

If you are looking to invest getting a box set of all the Beethoven Symphonies, you can’t go wrong with one of the best orchestras combined with one of the best conductors in the world.  I happened to witness a live performance of Simon Rattle with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Boston while I was a student and completely blown away, so I have been a Rattle fan since then.

3. Bernard Haitink conducting the London Symphony Orchestra

Haitink is one of my favorite conductors for various reasons.  I trust everything this old Maestro has to say in his music, so I would highly recommend latest recordings of the Beethoven cycle with the London Symphony Orchetsra.

4. Another Beethoven Symphonies Box Set: Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Solti

This was the first box set I ever got as a young musician – the powerful sound of the Chicago Symphony with Solti’s strong and articulated interpretations have always stayed with me.  If you are looking for an older Maestro with an amazing American Orchestra, this box set would be my pick.

To gain even more insight into Mei-Ann Chen, come see her conduct the Memphis Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, November 22 at the Cannon Center at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets start at just $15.  The program will be repeated on Sunday, November 22 at GPAC at 2:30 p.m.  For details visit the Memphis Symphony website.  You can be involved in the choice for our next Music Director – attend a concert and complete the survey to let us know YOUR thoughts!  You may also visit Mei-Ann’s Facebook page here.

Arts & Culture