“Alasdair Neale will officially take over as music director and conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra … July 1, shortly after he is introduced to the community at a free concert on the New Haven Green on June 22,” writes Frank Rizzo in the June issue of Connecticut Magazine. “Neale replaces William Boughton, who ended his 12-year tenure with the orchestra in May.” Neale is also music director of California’s Marin Symphony and Idaho’s Sun Valley Music Festival. “Q: In simplest terms, what makes a good conductor? Neale: More important than anything, it’s being a good musician. Q: What makes a great one? Neale: Add to that the power of persuasion and diplomacy. An excellent orchestra is composed of dozens of musicians who have … enormous experience and understanding of their musical convictions. It’s my job to persuade everybody that what I’m doing is workable. Q: Has the role of conductors changed over the decades? Neale: Like a lot of aspects of society, the roles have evolved…. I think of social media, for instance…. I’m the public face of NHSO, which is very much part of the job, and one I’m very comfortable with and happy to do.”
Posted May 23, 2019
