Mikko Franck's Metropolitan debut on hold through illness

Production of Salome will still have strong Finnish presence

print this

The Finnish National Opera’s General Music Director Mikko Franck was to have made his conducting début at the Metropolitan Opera in New York later this month, but he has been forced to cancel the engagements because of sinusitis.
      Franck was to have conducted performances of Richard Strauss’s Salome from September 23rd through to the end of October.
      In his absence, The Houston Opera Music Director Patrick Summers has been called up to conduct all performances of Salome during the autumn.
     
Even without Franck, the production is expected to be something of a Finnish showcase, as star soprano Karita Mattila will be taking the lead role (in a reprise of her stunning interpretation from 2004) and bass-baritone Juha Uusitalo will be making his Met début as Jochanaan (John the Baptist).
      “On Friday last the Met wanted to wait until after the weekend in case I would be able to fly over early this week to take care of the final rehearsals. I can only say that in my present state, flying is completely out of the question”, said Franck.
     
The Metropolitan is nevertheless leaving the door ajar for Franck.
      "My next Met contracts have fortunately been signed, but I’m not in a position to disclose what the productions might be”, said the 29-year-old conductor on Tuesday.
      Owing to his illness, an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, Franck also had to cancel some of his engagements with the National Opera in Helsinki, where he was to have conducted Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. Harri Karri conducted three performances of the opera in August.
      Franck’s indisposition is not expected to cause any other changes in the National Opera's autumn programme.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New York Times offers glowing review of Karita Mattila in Salome (18.3.2004)

See also:
  National Opera: Mikko Franck to be nominated for dual post of Artistic Director and General Music Director (22.11.2007)

Links:
  Juha Uusitalo
  Finnish National Opera
  Mikko Franck (Wikipedia)
  Metropolitan Opera of New York: Salome

Helsingin Sanomat