This weekend, Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen begins a three-year stint as the composer-in-residence at the New York Philharmonic. In concerts on Friday and Saturday, music director Alan Gilbert will conduct Salonen's piece LA Variations.
Studio 360’s Kurt Andersen spoke with Salonen about his time leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic. And Andersen asked if he's interested in taking on a similar role the New York Philharmonic when Gilbert steps down in 2017.
"I'm very happy with the way my life is structured at the moment," said Salonen. "And I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work with the L.A. Philharmonic for 17 years, which was quite a ride. It would be impossible to top it I guess, and even to replicate this experience."
Anderson continues: "So the idea of in two years, when the job at the New York Philharmonic comes open, that’s not something you have your eye on in any serious fashion yet?"
"I'm not even speculating about anything like that because I’m happy with where I’m at, at the moment."
The conductor's name has emerged on several critics' wish lists and predictions as a candidate for the job.
Salonen also talks about how living in Los Angeles freed up his compositional language, about using digital technology in concerts, and about his work on The Orchestra iPad app.
Listen to the full Studio 360 Segment: