In Monday’s (10/11) Cincinnati Enquirer, Janelle Gelfand writes, “For the first time in its 116-year history, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has the task of finding two artistic leaders at once. Music director Paavo Järvi will leave at the end of the current season, his 10th in Cincinnati, and Erich Kunzel, the face of pops in Cincinnati for more than four decades, died last year. … The orchestral landscape has changed markedly since the last time the CSO conducted a search a decade ago. Today, orchestras want an artistic leader who can inspire musicians and audiences alike with great music-making—but they also want someone who will be a leader in the community. To grow their audience, they need someone who can relate to a generation brought up on YouTube and Facebook. ‘In earlier times, music directors had to make great concert programs and great seasons. Now, music directors are increasingly playing roles in their communities, and are needing to be attuned to community needs and community direction,’ says Jesse Rosen, president and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, which has 900 member orchestras. … The Cincinnati Symphony says it will not rush into a decision. The top pick may not be free of other commitments for a few years.”
Posted October 13, 2010
