Blomstedt/ Philharmonia
Royal Festival Hall, 14th April 2019
Perhaps he keeps a portrait in his attic. Or perhaps he quaffs a magical elixir supplied by some Dulcamara-type figure. We do know he doesn’t touch alcohol or coffee. But Herbert Blomstedt denies there’s any secret to pulling off a punishing schedule as a nonagenarian conductor other than “I love music,” as he told The New York Times when he turned 90. “How could you deny being together with your loved one?” Now 91, he’s as spry as ever, and as enamoured with music as ever if the evidence of this life-affirming Philharmonia concert was anything to go by.
Herbert Blomstedt
© Martin UK Lengemann
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