Metro

DSO's Renowned Music Maker

New music director draws rave reviews.

Li

eonard Slatkin, called "America's
music director" last month by the
Los Angeles Times, is coming to

Detroit.
Slatkin's appointment was announced
last week at a press conference in Detroit's
Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music
Center. He launches his tenure as the
DSO's 12th music director commencing
with the 2008-09 season. His next sched-
uled appearance will be leading the DSO
in subscription concerts April 3-6, 2008.
Slatkin is the third Jewish music direc-
tor for the DSO. Ossip Gabrilowitsch
served from 1918-1936 and Antal Dorati
served from 1977-1981.
Anne Parsons, DSO president and exec-
utive director, said of Slatkin,"Leonard
has an international reputation as one of
the extraordinary conductors of our time.
He combines incredible musicianship with
enormous passion for his role as a vision-
ary orchestra leader:'
The musician members of the Music
Director Search Committee, Geoffrey
Applegate (principal second violin), Doug
Cornelsen (clarinet) and Karl Pituch
(principal horn) said, "The orchestra's
response was overwhelmingly positive
during his two weeks with us this year and
we understand the feelings were mutual.
There really could not be a better way to
begin this association, and we look for-
ward to many more years of great music
making together."
Also serving on the six-person search
committee was Peter D. Cummings, DSO
chairman emeritus and vice chairman,
board executive committee member Dr.
Clyde Wu and Anne Parsons.
"Last May, I conducted the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra for the first time in
20 years:' said Leonard Slatkin, "and it was
clear from the first downbeat that this was
an extraordinary ensemble. We've reached
agreement in a very short time and I am
happy and honored to take the helm of
this great orchestra.
"I believe we can develop a vision for
excellence, education, new and American
music, recordings and touring that will
bring new attention to the quality and
tradition of the Detroit Symphony locally,
nationally and abroad. I look forward to a
most exciting and rewarding tenure."
Although Slatkin will officially assume
his role with the DSO in the fall of 2008,

Leonard Slatkin: "I believe we can develop a vision for excellence."

he is actively participating in artistic and
strategic planning. "We are already mak-
ing significant plans for future seasons':
he said. "Next season, I will lead five sub-
scription weeks, and the year following,
one-half of the orchestra's concerts as we
develop our sound and image together.
"We will also continue the tremendous
educational activities already in place and
institute new initiatives as well."
In the United States, Slatkin regularly
conducts the New York Philharmonic,
the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles
Philharmonic and the Philadelphia
Orchestra. In Europe, his engagements
include the l'Orchestre Philharmonique
in Paris, the Berlin Philharmonic and the
Amsterdam Concertgebouw.
In December 2008 he returns to the

NHK Symphony in Tokyo for performanc-
es of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
Born in Los Angeles in 1946 to a dis-
tinguished musical family, his parents
were conductor-violinist Felix Slatkin and
cellist Eleanor Aller, founding members
of the famed Hollywood String Quartet.
Slatkin began his musical studies on
the violin and studied conducting with
his father, followed by Walter Susskind
at Aspen and Jean Morel at the Juilliard
School. He is married to soprano Linda
Hohenfeld, and they have one son, Daniel.
Slatkin has made more than 100 record-
ings with various ensembles around
the world. These have garnered more
than 50 Grammy nominations and five
Grammy Awards. The most recent was
in 2006 for Michigan-based composer

William Bolcom's Songs of Innocence and
Experience. The recording, made at the
University of Michigan, took in four of the
top prizes.
This season, Slatkin completes his
12-year tenure as music director of the
National Symphony in Washington, D.C.
He is principal guest conductor of the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London
and also recently accepted the position of
music adviser to the Nashville Symphony
through the 2008-09 season.
In fall 2008, he begins his appoint-
ment as principal guest conductor of
the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Last month, he concluded a three-year
appointment as principal guest conductor
of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the
Hollywood Bowl.
Slatkin led the Saint Louis Symphony
from 1979 until 1996, where he is now
conductor laureate.
In collaboration with Slatkin, Peter
Oundjian will continue as the DSO's prin-
cipal guest conductor and artistic adviser
through the 2007-08 season. Thomas
Wilkins will continue as DSO resident
conductor. Neeme Jarvi, the DSO's music
director for 15 years, stepped into the role
of music director emeritus in the 2005-06
season.
The DSO is heard live by more than
400,000 people annually in classical, pops,
jazz, festival, special event and young
people's concerts in Orchestra Hall at the
Max, as well as other Metro Detroit and
out-state locations.
The DSO has been a catalyst for both
urban revitalization and creative educa-
tional partnerships in Michigan. More
than $245 million has been invested in
the redevelopment of the Orchestra Place
neighborhood.
In 2003, a fully restored and modern-
ized Orchestra Hall debuted as part
of the opening of the Max M. Fisher
Music Center and the Jacob Bernard
Pincus Music Education Center. The
Pincus Center is home to the DSO's Civic
Ensemble programs, which train 500
young people each year.
The DSO has also forged a unique edu-
cational partnership with the new 1,200-
student Detroit School of Arts, a magnet
public high school. I I

Related editorial: page 25A

October 18 • 2007

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