Claus Peter Flor - an inspired choice of MD for the MPO

When the Kees Bakels reign as Music Director (MD) at the MPO came to end, the KL audience (myself included) felt very sad. Bakels had done great things with the MPO - like playing the core repertoire, introducing "new" (or rather) unusual pieces to the audience and conducting the bulk of a Mahler cycle here in KL. Bakels' replacement Matthias Bamert seemed to have a impressive CV but it was not reflected in his conducting and standards at the MPO went plunging swiftly . Repertoire that was played remained very "core" and audiences went away and numbers that appeared regularly at DFP, simply dwindled. When I heard that Claus Peter Flor was going to be the MPO's new MD, I was truly excited. Here was a major European talent that inspired the MPO to great heights in his guest stints here (like an unforgettable Prokofiev Romeo & Juliet and a great Bruckner Fifth remain in my mind!). I look forward to much more interesting music that maestro Flor will bring us and to rejuvenate the MPO's declining standards. Among the interesting pieces that I'd like to see at DFP are: Smetana's Ma Vlast, Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, Kabalevsky's Violin Concerto and Piano Concerto No. 3 and Mahler's Symphony No 3.