“The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra’s 2011-12 season is built around the battle for the baton,” writes Christa Lawler in Thursday’s (4/21) Duluth News Tribune (Minnesota). “The five finalists to replace Markand Thakar as music director each will conduct two programs—of their own creation—during the 12-concert season called ‘Five Batons: The Quest Begins.’ The on-the-job tryout includes meeting with the DSSO’s board of directors and concertgoers, visiting schools and crafting program notes. Thakar will lead the DSSO for the final two concerts of the season, ‘Delicious Melodies,’ which includes Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Sibelius, and ‘Dramatic Passions,’ a concert featuring music by Schubert, Leshnoff and Schumann. Thakar is leaving the DSSO in May 2013 after 12 years as music director. … [Search Committee Co-chairman Kevin] Bakke said the position drew 165 applicants from five continents. The committee narrowed the field to 32 before whittling the candidates to David Danzmayr, Rei Hotoda, Dirk Meyer, Bohuslav Rattay and Mariusz Smolij. The committee expects to name the new music director in the summer of 2012, Bakke said. Thakar then will lead the symphony for one more season before departing.”
Posted April 22, 2011
