Carlos Kalmar conducts Chicago’s Grant Park Orchestra in 2013. Photo by Patrick L. Pyszka/City of Chicago.
In the June 21 Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle MacMillan writes, “The Grant Park Music Festival has long had a tradition of bold, adventuresome programming. But none of the festival’s leaders have done more than Carlos Kalmar, who has made offsetting familiar classics with intriguing combinations of new and unusual works from the past a defining hallmark of his tenure…. Grant Park’s 2024 season, which runs through Aug. 17, will be Kalmar’s last as principal conductor and artistic director. He is stepping down after 25 seasons in the former position and 14 in the latter and will assume the title of conductor laureate. Kalmar, 66, admitted that he could envision himself leading the festival for 50 year—a job that he called a ‘blessing. There is nothing as fantastic as the Grant Park Music Festival,’ he said…. ‘The orchestra and chorus are wonderful.’ At the same time, he said, average tenures in positions like his are 10 years, and he has been in his post for nearly a quarter-century. ‘I thought, Well, yes, of course, I can continue. But I can say I made my point. It’s a good time to give the reins to someone else.’ ”
