Conductor Leonard Slatkin. Photo by Cindy McTee.
In Thursday’s (2/15) Las Vegas Review-Journal, John Katsilometes writes, “The Las Vegas Philharmonic is turning to internationally revered conductor Leonard Slatkin as it starts to transition after Donato Cabrera leaves his post as current conductor and music director in May. Slatkin will serve as the Philharmonic’s artistic consultant through the 2024-25 season, [Board Chair] Jeri Crawford has announced…. Slatkin said, ‘The opportunities for expanded concert programming, community outreach and educational programs along with the extraordinary live performance environment in Las Vegas unleashes the potential to create something unique in our country.’… Slatkin has committed to conducting two programs per season, beginning with American classics Nov. 9. The 79-year-old composer, author, and conductor is a six-time Grammy winner, former Music Director Laureate of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (where he was music director for 12 years), Directeur Musical Honoraire of the Orchestre National de Lyon, and Conductor Laureate of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra…. Cabrera joined the Las Vegas Philharmonic a decade ago. In that span, he has also served as MD of the California Symphony in the Bay Area. The Philharmonic is not in a rush to appoint a new conductor, planning to rotate in different styles throughout the season. This strategy is something of a prolonged audition, and there might not be a single conductor moving forward. Possibly a rotation of styles, generations, sensibilities…. As Philharmonic Executive Director Alice Sauro says, ‘This is Las Vegas. Anything is possible.’ ”
