In Sunday’s (3/30) New York Times, Phillip Lutz writes that the Westchester Philharmonic and Artistic Director Joshua Worby recently announced the appointment of co-principal conductors Jaime Laredo and Ted Sperling, following difficult financial post-recession years for the orchestra. “The arrangement, [Worby] said, promises to lend greater consistency to the artistry, make rehearsals more productive and add predictability to the marquee. While the leadership arrangement is unusual, its contours have become clearer in recent weeks as next season’s programming takes shape. Mr. Laredo and Mr. Sperling will each conduct two concerts—a fifth conducting slot will be filled by a guest…. Mr. Worby will keep budgets in line and oversee the choice of material.… Mr. Sperling said he hoped to work directly with Mr. Laredo—both have signed three-year contracts—and was considering offering Mr. Worby collaborations with the Collegiate Chorale, of which he was named artistic director in October.” Even during the 2010-11 season, when Itzhak Perlman left as artistic director, “The atmosphere was relatively upbeat, Mr. Laredo said.… ‘I would have actually expected a lot of long faces and unhappy people. But that wasn’t the case at all.’ ”
Posted April 1, 2014
Photo of Westchester Philharmonic by Matt Dine
