KLAUS MAKELA (from 2027, Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) shines, at the age of 22 (in 2019), conducting Beethoven's 9th Symphony

The news has reached me that Klaus Makela, the world-famous conductor who is still only 28 years of age, has accepted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's offer for him to succeed Riccardo Muti as its Music Director, in 2027.

To mark and celebrate these news, I have decided to feature, today, a live recording of Makela conducting Beethoven's 9th Symphony - with the Oslo Philharmonic, the Oslo Philharmonic Choir (conductor: Oystein Fevang), and soloists Lauren Fagan, Hanna Hipp, Tuomas Katajala and Shenyang - on 4 January 2019, when he was still a few days short of his 23rd birthday.

Unusually for me, I have decided against providing an analytical reaction to this video. I'd like you to make up your own mind, as to how you feel about this interpretation. However, if you do wish for my opinion, I will say that I have found this to be the most energetic, enthusiastic, original and full of life interpretation that I have heard of this symphony, in a long while. Yes, there are indeed moments where I personally would have chosen a different route, interpretatively speaking; however, Makela's interpretation makes (to me, at least) complete coherent sense; and, if that is indeed so, then our preferences or otherwise, as to his interpretative choices, are just a matter of taste, no more than that. If one considers that Makela, here, was only 22, then this interpretation strays (for me) into the territory of the miraculous. Even without considering his age, this remains (for me) a world-class performance, worthy of standing alongside many of the greats - and I'm not sure I can give a higher compliment than that one. But why not listen, and decide for yourself?