“It’s five minutes before he’ll raise the baton for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s 2015-2016 season-opening gala and Krzysztof Urbanski shows no sign of nerves,” writes Lou Harry in Saturday’s (10/31) Indianapolis Business Journal. “In fact, quite the opposite.… The 33-year-old conductor has been studying the notes for months and he’s now got the full hour of music recorded in his head…. In his fifth season in Indianapolis, the Polish native … and ISO management are comfortable with the response he’s received in Indianapolis…. Ticket sales from Urbanski’s first to third season rose from $6.7 million to $7.1 million and contributions jumped from $6.9 million to $10 million. Of course, many factors … are more likely to nudge those numbers … but Urbanski’s high profile doesn’t hurt…. Says Jesse Rosen, CEO of the League of American Orchestras, ‘For many of us, he came out of the blue.’ That’s not unusual, though, Rosen clarified. ‘Nobody ever heard of Esa-Pekka Salonen before he took over the L.A Philharmonic, either.’ … ‘I’m much more spontaneous now,’ [Urbanski] said, ‘much more interactive with the orchestra. And I love it…. There is an interaction between everyone.’ “
Posted November 2, 2015
Pictured: Krzysztof Urbanski leads the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, 2014. Photo by Michelle Pemberton / Indianapolis Star
