The City of Birmingham Symphony, which in recent decades has shown exceptional acuity in hiring gifted young conductors (Simon Rattle, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons), today announced as its next music director the young Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, who is presently Gustavo Dudamel's assistant at the LA Phil. I first encountered Gražinytė-Tyla in 2014 at the Hollywood Bowl, where she delivered a potent Mahler First. I've seen her on two other occasions, and each time she has exhibited musicality, intelligence, confidence, and, above all, vitality. Perhaps the biggest obstacle she faces as she rises in the profession is her intimidating name. The above video may be of assistance.
