In Wednesday’s (6/30) Seattle Times, Melinda Bargreen reports, “It’s official: The Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s baton will be passed to a 36-year-old French maestro, Ludovic Morlot, when Gerard Schwarz steps down from the music directorship a year from now. Morlot assumes the title of ‘music director designate’ this fall, at the beginning of the 2010-11 concert season, and becomes music director a year later, when he starts an initial six-year contract. Schwarz, music director of the symphony since 1985, assumes the title of conductor laureate in the summer of 2011, when his current contract expires. In 2011-12, Morlot will conduct a minimum of eight weeks during the regular concert season. He will conduct a minimum of 13 weeks each season through the end of his initial contract in 2017. Symphony sources declined to discuss compensation. Boyish and energetic, Morlot is known as a consensus-builder. He made a positive impression on both the musicians and the audiences in his Seattle debut as guest conductor last year, and again in his return in April. … Morlot has already demonstrated a strong interest in music education, conducting the Netherlands Youth Orchestra on tour. He excels in wide-ranging repertoire, both traditional and contemporary. And he has earned lavish praise for his work with major orchestras.”
Posted June 30, 2010
