“Sebastian Lang-Lessing, who guided the San Antonio Symphony to artistic success and helped steer it through a near financial collapse two years ago, will step down next year after a 10-year tenure as music director,” writes Deborah Martin in Tuesday’s (3/26) San Antonio Express-News (TX). “He said Tuesday he’s proud the symphony has survived and thrived musically…. Lang-Lessing said he remained committed to the organization and said he will shift his role to music director emeritus next year…. To help the symphony financially, he has issued a $100,00 challenge grant. He will match new and increased gifts made by Aug. 31 up to $100,000…. The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon…. His programming innovations—including commissioning new works and programming festivals designed as deep dives into the works of individual composers—helped the symphony musicians sharpen their already solid chops…. A signature of his programming has been the annual festivals… The latest installment in the series—three concerts pairing the music from Italy, France and Spain with food from those regions—is dubbed the Symphony of Flavors. It kicks off Friday. The 2019-20 concert season will be announced later this week.”
In photo: Sebastian Lang-Lessing is music director of the San Antonio Symphony. Photo: Bonnie Arbittier/Rivard Report
Posted March 27, 2019
