In Sunday’s (9/19) Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pierre Ruhe writes, “This week, Robert Spano launches his 10th season as music director of the Atlanta Symphony, the orchestra’s 66th, with favorites by Mozart and Berlioz and a fanfare world premiere by one of the so-called ‘Atlanta School’ of composers. It would have been hard to predict a decade ago what Spano’s tenure would have looked like: When he was appointed music director, he was untested for so big a job. … ‘I feel I can do a lot more with a lot less effort,’ the 49-year-old Spano said recently in his studio below Symphony Hall. ‘I noticed the process—the relationship—had changed about five years ago, when I started to feel it wasn’t me and the ASO, but we were one institution. The communication just gets easier, and it’s possible to go deeper into the music faster.’ … To celebrate 10 years of Spano and also principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles, who was appointed at the same time, the orchestra has commissioned 10 jaunty fanfares, just a couple of minutes each, to be performed across the 2010-11 season. This week the fanfare is by Christopher Theofanidis, named ‘Une Certaine Joie de Vivre,’ addressing his fondness for the Spano and the ASO.”
Posted September 20, 2010
