Claus Peter Flor next Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra director

Ok, its been official for quite some time, maestro Claus Peter Flor has been appointed as Music Director for Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra come this 2007-1008 season. Since early this season, rumours had been abound this would be the last season for current Music Director Matthias Bamert. General consensus were despite his impressive CV (he studied conducting under Leopold Stokowski and George Szell, released a number of acclaimed recordings including Stokowski's Bach transcriptions), his leadership paled in contrary with Kees Bakel's ten-year reign at MPO. Everyone I knew who went MPO concerts would give a collective shudder everytime one mentions a Bamert concert. The management should be congratulated for making such a wise choice electing maestro Claus Peter Flor as the MPO's new music director. His concerts for the past few seasons since his debut in 2003 were much anticipated events. Although I only attended his Bruckner Fifth concert last season, the response of MPO under his leadership were clearly etched in my mind.

Most important for maestro Claus Peter Flor is to rejuvenate the programme repertoire which was as dull as dishwater this past few seasons, which he mentioned in last Sunday's interview with The Star that he would plus getting feedback from subscribers. There has been too many rehashes of familiar warhorses and diversity of repertoire were lacking. I remember looking back at Kees Bakel's 2000-2001 season was surprised by quality of the concerts (including late Mtislav Rostropovich's debut) including a Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra coupled with a mouthwatering Beethoven's Emperor played by Pierre Laurent-Aimard. I hope maestro Claus Peter Flor could generate similar excitement for next season's programme, boy can't I wait!

Bruckner 5 review: http://www.musicandcdreview.com/MPO-Bruckner5.htm