Marc Soustrot
(c) Christoffer Lomfors
The Management of the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla (ROSS) has issued a communiqué announcing the decision to cancel the Beethoven Festival, scheduled for July 10-14, in the framework of which the ROSS was to offer the complete works of the composer’s symphonies at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville.
The press statement says: « The decision is motivated by several reasons. On the one hand, the request of Principal Conductor and Artistic Director, Maestro Marc Soustrot, in charge of conducting all the concerts, who has notified the institution that currently the artistic conditions are not suitable for such a celebration, nor does he feel physically fit enough to face the physical challenge of this Festival. »
According to Soustrot, his current professional and vital situation prevents him from making that effort, since he needs « an orchestra at full capacity to be able to express myself artistically at the highest level that I have always tried to reach », and he asserts that « to be coherent with my position, I have decided not to participate in the Beethoven Festival ».
The French maestro has also explained that, after a dozen concerts cancelled due to the strike of the staff, « the effort that this Festival requires from the musicians and its director has lost its meaning. »
