In Sunday’s (1/3/2010) New York Times, Chloe Veltman writes, “The relationship between the rock stars of classical music and the orchestras and audiences that interact with them can generally be characterized as a series of memorable one-night stands. … Lately, however, orchestras across the country have been looking for ways to deepen their relationships with top-tier musicians. Artist residencies, ranging from one week to two years, are now de rigueur. The baritone Thomas Hampson and the composer Magnus Lindberg have lengthy residencies with the New York Philharmonic; the Chicago Symphony recently announced the appointment of the Bay Area composer Mason Bates as a composer in residence; and last year the Los Angeles Philharmonic created the position of creative chair for another Bay Area composer, John Adams. In a similar vein, the Berkeley Symphony recently hired the composer Gabriela Lena Frank as its creative adviser. She will help shape programming and guide outreach projects. Now the San Francisco Symphony’s new Project San Francisco aims to enhance the audience’s appreciation of classical music through a pair of residency programs with the composer George Benjamin (Thursday through Jan. 16) and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma (Jan. 20 to 26). The program will include performances, educational activities and community events.”
Posted January 4, 2010
