Stilian Kirov, “the 33-year-old, Bulgarian-born conductor, who will lead his first concert as music director to kick off the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 40th anniversary season next month … talks about ‘changing people’s lives through great music,’ in a way that doesn’t sound hopelessly idealistic,” writes John von Rhein in Sunday’s (9/10) Chicago Tribune. “His three-year contract took effect in June. His first subscription concert in his new position—Oct. 14 … is among the most highly anticipated autumn music events…. ‘I think there is a great passion for music among the musicians and at every level of the IPO,’ he says…. ‘Everybody feels free and inspired to express himself as an artist.’ Kirov’s training at the Juilliard School under conductor James DePreist gave him the technical skills and confidence he needed…. He served as associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony and the Memphis Symphony before taking on his current music directorships in New Jersey (Symphony in C) and California (Bakersfield Symphony)…. Kirov … plans to launch a composer-in-residence program in the near future and [this season] will introduce a work by the American-based Iranian composer Gity Razaz.
Posted September 12, 2017
