“Salonen Robs Everything Of Poetry And Drama”

Esa-Pekka Salonen, whose performances are as untidy as his person.

Jorma Panula always believed that Jukka-Pekka Saraste was the most talented of his students, and always expressed disappointment that Salonen enjoyed the higher-profile career.

Of all his students, Panula liked Osmo Vanska the least. However, fifteen years into Vanska’s career, Panula conceded that Vanska, of all his students, had been the one who had developed the most and was best able to obtain excellent results from any orchestra—and was the only former student who had become his own man, and acquired individuality.

I am informed that Panula’s former students do not maintain diplomatic relations with each other.