In Sunday’s (1/30) Cincinnati Enquirer, Janelle Gelfand writes, “The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has enlisted three giants of the classical music world for an unprecedented artistic leadership arrangement in its 2011-12 season. … A threesome of big-name ‘creative directors’—a Spanish conductor, a Chinese piano sensation and an American composer—will preside over the season, each with his own series. Maestro Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, named Musical America’s 2011 Conductor of the Year, will be the creative director of the 10-concert ‘Masterworks Series’ and will guest-conduct two programs. … Superstar Chinese pianist Lang Lang will oversee his own five-concert ‘Ascent Series’ and serve up his fiery talent in two piano concertos. And maverick American composer Philip Glass will direct the five-concert ‘Boundless Series.’ … Music director Paavo Järvi, who leaves at the end of the current season, believes the trio will be ‘a very wise way of keeping a certain visibility and keeping the quality going.’ … An arrangement of three creative directors rarely—if ever—has been undertaken by a major symphony orchestra, says Jesse Rosen, president and CEO of the League of American Orchestras. … ‘As a way of a transition from one music director to another, it’s a fresh approach, and having these three particular artists is really extraordinary, because each one excels in that area they’ve been assigned,’ he says.”
Posted January 31, 2011
