In Friday’s (2/21) New York Times, Michael Cooper writes, “It seemed as if the New York Philharmonic had successfully poached some talent from the competition last year when it announced it had lured Stephen Williamson away from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to be its new principal clarinet player. But Mr. Williams remained technically on a leave of absence, and on Friday he announced that he would be taking his woodwind back to Chicago new season. ‘Decisions like these are intensely personal, and the return to Chicago is one that simply felt right for me and my family at this point in our lives,’ he said in a statement, in which he thanked the Philharmonic for its ‘commitment to making extraordinary music.’ … The Philharmonic said that with Mr. Williamson’s departure, it would postpone its plans to play and record Carl Nielsen’s clarinet concerto as part of its ‘Nielsen Project.’ The orchestra said in a statement that ‘The New York Philharmonic wishes Mr. Williamson well in his future endeavors.’ ”
Posted February 24, 2014
