Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra music director Edo de Waart will step down from the post after the 2016-2017 season to become conductor laureate, continuing his work with the orchestra in a reduced role,” writes David Schuyler in Thursday’s (2/12) Milwaukee Business Journal. “De Waart will leave the music director position after eight years… After the 2016-2017 season, de Waart will conduct at least one MSO program each season…. Mark Niehaus, president and executive director of the Milwaukee Symphony, credits de Waart with transforming what had always been a strong orchestra and lifting it to new artistic heights. ‘He was known as an orchestra builder,’ Niehaus said. ‘He fulfilled that role brilliantly.’ The MSO has embarked a search for a new music director which ideally would see a new leader in place in 2017, though … ‘we won’t put a deadline on that that will rush a search,’ Niehaus said. Concertmaster Frank Almond agreed that de Waart has elevated the artistry of the MSO. ‘He has both challenged and inspired us as musicians, and we look forward to wonderful music-making in his remaining seasons with us and beyond,’ Almond said…. [De Waart] remains the current chief conductor of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic.”
Posted February 13, 2015
