Arts Entertainment king The Baton Young Israeli conductor opens the Detroit Symphony Orchestra summer concert season at Meadow Brook. SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to the Jewish News Bar/ Bat Mitzt/ahs S o tit/ ( Bancittets Corporate Events/ Anniversaries T 7/ 5 2002 58 30005 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD South of 14 Mile Rd. Farmington Hills 43080 GARFIELD ROAD North of 19 Mile Rd. Clinton Township 51195 SCHOENHERR North of 23 Mile Rd. Shelby Township 248.932.9999 588.263.9999 586673166161 England. I've had experiences with strong rain and unbearable heat, but that keeps me on the ball." Volkov gets the musical ball rolling with each new orchestra by making a point to use a bit of humor and kind words. He's done that with the New York Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, Sweden's Gothenburg Symphony and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, among many others. "Since I'm at the beginning of my career, most of the time I'm with orchestras that I haven't been with before," the maestro says. "There's always the tension of the first rehears- al, but usually I have a good experience. "For the first half hour, I try to let the orchestra just play so there is a feeling that we are listening to each other and getting to know each other before we get into the details." t an aig when many young men are still deciding what to do with their lives, Israeli-born Ilan Volkov is leaving one prestigious post in classical music for another. In between serving as assistant con- ductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and stepping into the post of chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the 26- year-old Volkov will take the baton for the opening concerts of this season's Meadow Brook Music Festival. He'll lead the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the first two concerts of its summer season on the grounds of Oakland University. Both pro- grams will spotlight vio- linist Leila Josefowicz. "The Dances of Spain," which begins 8 Conducting Career p.m. Friday, July 12, Volkov has been getting includes Chabrier's to know his way around Espana, Chausson's music since he was 6 Poeme, Ravel's Tzigane Ilan Volkov: Making and De Falla's Three- classical music available to years old, when he start- Cornered Hat. The as many people as possible. ed playing the violin at the encouragement of Grupo Espatia dance his father, a pianist company of Farmington whose career started in Russia. The Hills contributes some fiery flamenco then-youngster continued his violin to the program. lessons with Chaim Taub, leader of the "Boldly Beethoven," which begins 8 Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, while p.m. Saturday, July 13, includes the also studying piano and composition. composer's Coriolan Overture, Volkov took up conducting at the Symphony No. 8 and Violin Concerto. Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem "It's nice that the programs are very from 1991-93 and then went to the different styles of music because it's Royal Academy of Music in London. nice to have different things to do in He's been working as a conductor the same week with the same orches- since his early teens. tra," says Volkov, who is making his "I loved the repertoire for orchestral debut with the DSO. music more and more, so conducting "I think it's important for classical music to be performed outside because seemed just natural," he explains. Appointed "young conductor in asso- that helps make sure that classical music is available to as many people as ciation" for the Newcastle-based Northern Sinfonia in 1995, when he possible. I've done a few concerts at was only 19, Volkov went on to become Tanglewood, [the Boston Symphony's principal conductor of the London summer home in Lenox, Mass.], and Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in 1997. I've done a few outdoor concerts in