For a guy one FB commenter said looks like “the love child of Mickey Rourke and Tom Petty,” I guess I don’t have much room to talk. But for all those who’ve been frightened by the giant mug of DSO maestro Jaap van Zweden staring down at them all over town, take heart. Dallas Symphony Orchestra insiders say the DSO is planning to “soften” the maestro’s image when the next campaign rolls around. First time I saw the Jaap banners–there may be 100 of them around–I thought Orwell’s Big Brother had been installed for sure.
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Did the big bad bald symphony conductor scare you?
Funny story about that: waiting in traffic leaving the Mavs game on Wednesday night, we were stopped at that light that short cycles right outside the Meyerson. Looking over at the huge banner on the side of the Meyerson, I asked, “Why is Dave Attell coming to the Meyerson?”
The end.
He looks like John Malkovich’s over-the-edge brother.
I like that he looks forbidding short-tempered cruel and surpassingly pretentious. I liked Our Boyish Litton, but this gives notice that there’s a new maestro in town: He’s Northern European. He has no use for jokes or frivolity of any kind. He will berate an inferior imperiously and in an accent that drips with contempt. But after a stirringly competent performance, he will kiss that same inferior on both cheeks with a fierceness so disquieting that it almost makes them miss being berated.
In short, he’s the Ani-Litton.
Anti-Litton. No relation to Anti DeFranco.
He’s brought a fantastic new fire to the Meyerson. Last week the DSO performed THREE encore pieces to standing ovations. Go, See, Listen and enjoy the effects his artistry has on the performers and audience alike.
Isn’t the issue raised about the marketing of Jaap? His talent was not been questioned. It’s the way that the DSO is promoting him. They pushed Andrew as the Pillsbury Dough Boy and now they’re going in the opposite direction for Jaap.
In this day and age when for-profits and not-for-profits are economoically challenged, surely the symphony’s marketing dept. can find something that projects both talent and a slightly friendlier personna in the maestro.
I doubt if symphony goers or potential donors are put off because he frightens a frontburner blog dog.
Sprockets.
Me neither.
Bill Marvel: Once again, my friend, you’ve totally missed the point. Why so touchy over a slightly tongue-in-cheek critique of the manner in which Jaap is being marketed? Are all of our flavor-of-the-month Idols beyond some gentle spoofing? Especially after the George Steel fiasco–where an apparent hell behind the scenes was either missed or papered over by fawning journalists–I’d think a little irreverant joshing of the latest icon would be, if not welcomed, at least permitted.
My original entry was itself a spoof of your spoof — “Did the big bad bald symphony conductor scare you?” The certain parties, who shall remain unnamed, seriously proposed a remarketing campaign. Now THAT’s not a spoof. That’s idiocy.
1. I realize he has gotten rave reviews for his conducting, and the concerts; glad for that. I think he has re-energized the Symphony. I realize that’s extremely important.
2. Very repugnant is his scowl, frown, the absolutely mean way he looks in all his photos. Indeed, the unfriendly, menacing photos lead one to believe he might be a quite unpleasant person.
3. The Dallas Symphony has junked-up the exterior of I.M. Pei’s masterpiece. The stringing of cheap transparent lettering along the top of one of the roofs “Dallas Symphony”; and then hanging a banner down the side of the building. The combined effect looks crappy, next to the blockbuster-Winspear House. Pei’s building is a splendid masterpiece. The Symphony and, apparently, its marketing people, have made a thrilling building look like a piece of junk, and awful.
Glenn,
Please note point No. 2 from reader.
I rest my case.
I think he’s hot.
Glowering worked for Beethoven and Sibelius. Why not for Jaap?