“The classical music world—and the arts world at large—was reeling Wednesday morning with the sudden and unexpected news that longtime Los Angeles Philharmonic president and CEO Deborah Borda will be leaving the organization,” writes Deborah Vankin in Thursday’s (3/16) Los Angeles Times. “She’ll be replacing Matthew VanBesien as president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic starting Sept. 15…. ‘Deborah has been in L.A. 17 years, so the fact that there might be another chapter in her professional career shouldn’t surprise people,’ [League of American Orchestra President and CEO Jesse] Rosen said. ‘But the surprise of coming back as CEO to a place she’s already [headed up] before, that’s the surprise. I’m not aware of any other instance where [the head of] an orchestra left and went back a second time to be CEO.’… Borda … is considered one of the most successful arts leaders in the country…. ‘I think it’s safe to say we were all very surprised,’ [the LA Phil’s] executive director, Gail Samuel, said. ‘Once you think it through and talk to Deborah, it begins to make sense.’ ” Said Disney Hall architect Frank Gehry, “I hate to see her go…. We’re very close. I guess I’ll just have to go to New York more!”
Posted March 16, 2017
