One of the conductors vying for the post of artistic director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has scooped a top international award.
Jaap van Zweden, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and one of the world's leading conductors, was named Musical America's Conductor of the Year 2012 two weeks before beginning a concert series with the Hong Kong Philharmonic last Friday.
'I thought the award would go to [Los Angeles Philharmonic chief] Dudamel or [New York Philharmonic chief] Gilbert. But they picked me. It was interesting,' said the Dutch conductor, who is to receive the prize from the performing arts news outlet in New York next month.
The maestro, 51, is one of a dozen candidates aiming to succeed Edo de Waart as leader of Hong Kong's top orchestra. Though it has not been formally announced, they are auditioning by acting as guest conductors for major orchestral works.
Others include the former music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Andreas Delfs, the Japan Philharmonic's Alexander Lazarev and Vienna Philharmonic veteran Johannes Wildner. The exercise will finish at the end of the season in July.
Van Zweden has a long association with de Waart. He was concertmaster of the Concertgebouw orchestra in Amsterdam for 16 years, with which de Waart guest-conducted and recorded. In 2004, he succeeded de Waart as music chief of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. And next year, de Waart will succeed him to lead the Royal Flemish Philharmonic.
'I think there is an advantage for me to work at an orchestra previously led by Edo, although we are totally different,' Van Zweden said. 'Edo is more an orchestra-builder, and I am more on the performance side.'