Anna Handler

[DoctorT]

Has anyone on the forum come across her?

https://artscouncil-ni.org/news/anna-handler-to-become-new-chief-conductor-of-the-ulster-orchestra

[bluestateprommer]

Has anyone on the forum come across her?

Honestly, no, but this sounds like good news for the Ulster Orchestra. The concert in Derry referred to in the press release must have been this one, which sounds like her debut with the orchestra:

https://www.ulsterorchestra.org.uk/whats-on/on-your-doorstep-storm-and-drama/

If this was her Ulster Orchestra debut, then this is another case of an orchestra and a conductor "getting married on one date", so to speak. But that's OK as long as both parties are happy with the arrangement.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra concert likewise mentioned in the press release is this concert just last weekend:

https://www.bso.org/events/nov-20-22-mason-hartm-mussor?performance=2025-11-21-13%3A30

Review of this concert:

https://www.classical-scene.com/2025/11/22/russia-love/

WCRB has this audio of the Saturday night performance available for another few weeks (it tends to be 30 days after broadcast):

https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2025-09-10/joshua-bell-the-bso-and-de-hartmanns-violin-concerto

I was planning on listening to this concert at some point, especially because of the Thomas de Hartmann concerto. But now I am most definitely going to listen (famous last words). Congrats to AH and to the UO.

[DoctorT]

Thanks bsp. Looks like an exciting appointment after the wonderful Rustioni years

[pastoralguy]

I wonder if she’s any relation to Chelsea Handler.

[bluestateprommer]

I wonder if she’s any relation to Chelsea Handler.

Hmm, I doubt it ;) . That aside, found this YT video of AH with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, conducting Schubert 8:

https://youtu.be/6VJ95j0Q11g?si=B2foMIx73q4IjoJT

An example of AH at the piano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWyzwCx-PIo

This makes me wonder if the Ulster Orchestra and AH might plan something like a concert with a Mozart piano concerto with AH conducting from the keyboard. We shall see.

[kernelbogey]

I wonder if she’s any relation to Chelsea Handler.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Handler

[bluestateprommer]

Thanks bsp. Looks like an exciting appointment after the wonderful Rustioni years

Found an article by Alf McCreary in the Belfast Telegraph where Anna H. is planning to start big, with Beethoven 9:

"Plans have already been laid to open her first season next autumn with Beethoven’s mighty Choral Symphony, featuring the Ulster Orchestra and local choirs, marking the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death."

I heard her Boston SO concert before the deadline at WCRB. It was good, if not earth-shaking. She led the Boston SO well in the Violin Concerto by Thomas de Hartmann (although Joshua Bell kind of spoiled the spell with the schmaltzy arrangement of Chopin as the encore). The Mussorgsky had some odd extra 'beats' towards the end of 'The Great Gate of Kyiv', perhaps in a nod to the piano original. But again, certainly a good concert.

[smittims]

'Handler' is a good name for a conductor. There used to be an organist called 'Sittard'. And isn't there a violinist called Margaret Faultless?