Just to remember that there is a tomorrow, here's a note from San Francisco Symphony that has nothing to do with labor relations. That is true, appearances notwithstanding: Robin Sutherland made this decision long before the strike began.
In a previous News item about Sutherland's 40 years with both SFS and the S.F. Conservatory, two upcoming concerts were mentioned:
- As soloist in Ingvar Lidholm’s Poesis in Davies Symphony Hall, April 11-14, at concerts conducted by Herbert Blomstedt (the program also includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) and Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde). These concerts will be broadcast on 89.9/90.3/104.9 KDFC and kdfc.com at 8 p.m. on April 23.
- A special concert at the Conservatory on April 24, "Forty Years On ...", commemorating both Sutherland's admission to the school and years with SFS.
The latter, a much anticipated event, is on as scheduled. The SFS announcement about the April 11-14 concerts, however, says:
Pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi will replace Robin Sutherland who has withdrawn from the San Francisco Symphony’s performances of Ingvar Lidholm’s Poesis April 11-14 at Davies Symphony Hall.This is Nakagoshi’s debut with the San Francisco Symphony. He began piano study at age 10 in his native Japan, and eight years later came to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he earned degrees in composition and chamber music. He represented the Conservatory at the Kennedy Center, and trained also with Emanuel Ax and Gilbert Kalish, before collaborating with a variety of soloists and chamber ensembles.
Nakagoshi currently serves as pianist in residence at the Conservatory. He and pianist Eva-Maria Zimmermann have a piano four-hands duo named ZOFO standing for "20-Fingered Orchestra." ZOFO’s recording entitled Mind Meld was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award in the category of Best Chamber Performance.