Will Nagano add Montreal to his scenes?

Will Los Angeles Opera music director Kent Nagano add the Montreal Symphony to his list of duties? The Canadian press thinks so. But Nagano and orchestra officials are keeping mum.

Citing a story that appeared earlier in Montreal’s French daily Le Devoir, the Montreal Gazette said Friday that Nagano so wowed musicians and audiences when he led the orchestra in January 2003 that he’s become the prime candidate to take over the post left empty when Charles Dutoit left almost two years ago.

Nagano’s plate already is full. In addition to L.A. Opera and guest conducting spots around the globe, he’s been the director of Berlin’s Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester since June 2000, although he’s said to be phasing out his Berlin responsibilities in anticipation of taking over the Bavarian State Opera in 2006. Throughout his career rise, he’s also remained loyal to the Berkeley Symphony, which gave him his start and which he has led since 1978.

The Gazette said the Montreal Symphony expects to make an announcement in March.

-- Chris Pasles