The voting has begun!

No, I'm not talking about British parliamentary elections.  Those are over and done with, and did not end with any of the expected excitement.

Jesus-Christus-Kirche Berlin-Dahlem
site of today's BPO election.

Today's election is of a different kind as the 124 tenured members of the Berlin Philharmonic meet to elect a new Music Director.  This person (let's just say "this guy") will succeed Sir Simon Rattle at the close of the 2016-17 season.

Interesting way to pick a new chief:  let the player's decide.  A far cry from that in the states.  Honestly enough, I once heard a search chair promise that the next conductor "would look good from behind," and another promised "a full head of hair."  I wish I was making these things up.

Anyway, the bets are in (see Ken Woods May 7 morning line).  I'm betting on a German:  it's either Thielemann or Thielemann.

By the way, the choice of the church for the election was not happenstance:  it's quite often the venue used for BPO recordings.  Here it is in "orchestra mode:"

Regardless of the outcome, methinks we will know soon....