Debut without BRSO: Conductor Mirga Gražinytè-Tyla
“I am an impatient person”
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The Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla is a guest of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for the first time. Born in Vilnius in 1986, she is one of the most successful conductors of our time. In the BR-KLASSIK interview, she talks about her first date with an orchestra, about similarities between Lithuania and Bavaria and about her personal Brexit, because she is leaving the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Image source: © Frans Jansen
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BR CLASSIC: Ms. Gražinytė-Tyla, this week you are making your debut with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. What do you do when you stand in front of an orchestra that is new to you for the first time?
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: A debut that sounds very exciting – and it is. But I would rather focus on something very beautiful, such as when two people who do not know each other meet – probably with curiosity and in the best case with openness – and see what kind of conversation develops. And it’s very similar to debut with an orchestra.
Love for singing, love for nature and also love for freedom.
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla on the connection between Lithuania and Bavaria
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BR CLASSIC: You come from Lithuania. This concert with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra marks the start of the Lithuanian year of culture in Bavaria and has the very optimistic motto: “Without Distance – Lithuanian Culture in Bavaria”. What connects Lithuania with Bavaria?
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: I would guess: love for singing, love for nature and also love for freedom.
BR CLASSIC: In any case, it is an exciting opportunity to get to know all possible facets of Lithuanian culture in this country.
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla during a rehearsal with the BRSO | Image source: Astrid Ackermann
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: Just as it is of course something very special for us from Lithuania to build an even stronger bridge to Bavaria. It is about the important question of a nation and its cultural tradition. However, in the best case scenario, it should always lead to an even larger, global connection. And culture is a wonderful way to do just that. Because if we are open to getting to know the strengths of the respective culture, to accept them and to enjoy them, then we will not waver, even if we encounter weaknesses.
Brexit and more: Farewell to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
BR CLASSIC: This is your fifth season as Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. So far, that has been an international success story. But you didn’t extend your contract beyond 2022. Why?
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: In human life the question is always: What are you looking for and what is most important to you? I am also saddened to take this step to leave this position at the CBSO. But for me it is just the right thing in this phase of my life. And I can look forward to continuing to work with the CBSO, the – I’m absolutely sure with this – will be preserved.
BR CLASSIC: You can of course also assume that it has something to do with Brexit, right?
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: There are many reasons. And unfortunately, Brexit is also part of it somewhere.
Maybe I’m an impatient person.
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence
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BR CLASSIC: Simon Rattle, who is her friend and also her sponsor, is leaving the London Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and will become chief conductor of our Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. You are now leaving Birmingham a year early. That is actually a bad sign for UK culture.
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: The question is what to look at. I think the orchestra is constantly on the lookout, evolving. The current corona time is anything but easy for the CBSO. Nevertheless, there are very strong currents that are very convincingly looking for something new, for something new, for example for even more connection to the city, to the children there, to the other artists and cultural organizations. I think that’s really great. And I see that from these seeds, which we have sown to a large extent together, but which of course also have a hundred years of history, a great deal will still emerge.
BR CLASSIC: It is actually noticeable in your career that you have only ever taken permanent positions for a limited time. You were also only at the theaters in Heidelberg, Bern and Salzburg for a relatively short time. Does that mean you are still looking yourself?
Mirga Gražinytė-Silence: I have to laugh now. That’s right somewhere. But maybe I’m just an impatient person. It feels like it’s the right thing to do afterwards. It will be seen later.
The interview for BR-KLASSIK was conducted by Fridemann Leipold.
Broadcast: “Allegro” on March 26, 2021 from 06:05 in BR-KLASSIK
The concert on Friday, March 26th, 2021 will be from 8:05 p.m. in BR-KLASSIK and broadcast on BR-KLASSIK CONCERT.
Program and contributors:
Mieczysław Weinberg: Symphonie No. 2
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto in B flat major, KV 595
Ludwig van Beethoven: Leonoren-Ouvertüre Nr. 3 C-Dur
Francesco Piemontesi, Klavier
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Conductor
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