| OCR Text |
Show Andre Previns sudden departure left Pittsburgh Symphony in curious lurch By Michael Kimmelman one to fill r Newspapers PITTSBURGH The glossy flier announcing the 1985-8season of the Pittsburgh Symphony a telling photograph. One of the pages folds out to reveal a picture of the orchestra assembled on the stage df olrnate Heinz Hall, facing an empty Knight-Ridde- 6 con-kiil- jdtum. though it never has been considered among the top U.S. orchestras and has always seemed a other" hitjlike Pennsylvanias after the Philadelphia, there is no question that in a state less fortunate the Pittsburgh Symphony Would be a big deal. The orchestra has been highly regarded for most of its history, especially under Fritz Reiner in the 1940s and William Steinberg from 1952 to 1976. But its national fame increased most markedly under music director Andre Previn, who took over ip, 1977 and parlayed his post into a series called Previn and the Pittsburgh. half-doze- n Jvell-receiv- public-televisio- n Difficult Position Previn, however, departed a year ago to become music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Thus the empty podium and the difficult position in which the Pittsburgh Symphony currently finds itself. The situation reveals much about the way orchestras are run nowadays, about the function of a music director and about the problems a major orchestra has in finding Some that Job. Indeed, Pittsburgh's plight is a case study in big-leag- musical politics apd priorities; it represents the problems faced by many very good orchestras whose next step will determine whether or not they become great. A music director is an important element in determining an orchestras standing. Hiring a prestigious director can significantly alter an ensembles stature in the music business and thus its ability to win tour dates, grants, record contracts and radio and television appearances. Conductors Previn's departure, Pittsburgh has found itself in a curious middle ground. Because it is not considered quite as good as the top few orchestras, it cannot attract someone from the very small pool of first-ran- k conductors. Vet iri order to move up, both artistically and In terms of public perception, it would do well to persuade one of those conductors to move down. Says Marshall Turkin, the orchestra's managing director; If our reputation were 10 percent grander, they might be 10 percent more interestFirst-Ran- k Since ed. Instead, the conductors Pittsburgh attract often are not as good as the orchestra or at least not as n as the orchestra might want. Such fame is important if the orchestra is to maintain the high visibility Previn established through television. could well-know- Utah Symphony Chorus plans annual auditions The Utah Symphony Chorus will hold its annual auditions for the 24 s' core singers Tuesday and Wednes- day. i These singers, who are paid, rehearse with the entire chorus of 150 members under director Ed Thompson. Rehearsals are normally held Tuesday evenings in Gardner Hall at the University of Utah. To schedule an appointment for an audition, call theUtah Symphony Chorus at the University of Utah. The schedule is: women will record by Holst with the Utah Symphony under Joseph Silverstein, music director of the symphony, in October. The men and women will perform J.S. Bachs "Magnificat in three performances with the Utah Symphony Chamber Orchestra in October. The entire Utah Symphony Chorus will join the Utah Symphony under Charles Ketcham. in Mozarts Requiem mid July, in Symphony Hall and at Snowbird. The Planets .Symphony Hall May 22 8 p.m. The Cleveland Orchestra, long considered one of the very finest in the country, could afford to choose the lesser-know- n Christoph von as music director last year because its own prestige gave the conDoh-nan- ductor immediate importance. Pittsburgh doesn't possess that kind of leverage. What it does have is players who are intensely interested in the issue of who will lead them and who are involved, to a degree, in making the choice. The orchestra members artistic advisory search committee regularly confers with the board of directors and, according to committee chairman and cellist Hampton Mallory, Weve found the suggestions weve made have been implemented. I think it's a matter of persuading those on the board that their interests and those of the musicians are congruent, and its working." What are those interests? Both groups have said that the principal goal is selecting the best possible artist. But beyond that, their priorities may vary, for a board of directors must also address less lofty concerns. Diminished Subscriptions One of them and a significant is faced not just by the Pittsone burgh board but by those of orchestras around the country, in varying degrees, all the time. In the 1979-8- 0 season, the Pittsburgh Symphony was 98 percent subscribed, but every year since then the figure has diminished significantly. This season the orchestra is only 70 percent subscribed, and it is hoping not to slip even more next year. According to the orchestras music administrator, Bruce Carr, and its marketing director, Louis Spisto, subscriptions dropped largely because of programming complaints. They cite other factors changing demographics in the Pittsburgh area, less willingness by younger concertgoers everywhere nowadays to buy subscription packages, especially when they know good single tickets are available. But programming clearly was a big problem. Compared with many other conductors, Previn was hardly a daring programmer, offering only a smattering of new works and a modest amount of English and Russian music along with the standard German repertoire. But even this was too much tions force, The world cruise Til-so- Esa-Pekk- Salonen, a Gracious Chinese Dining Mandarin Cuisine Steaks and Seafood Located at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Open 7 days a week II Chin Lung Yin Reservations 3698 East 7000 South 943-819- 9 del irate sauces, southing Juiihh subtle f.leirvrius, of the WITH THIS COUPON and a 2bpuiiroi respect and cure fur food . 1 now; joni;s April 29 Kingsbury Hall 8 SEASON FINALE time finds UTC patrons ready to see 24 ports of call from the Queen Elizabeth cruise in a New York I! as she starts a storm.' Some 30,000 miles later, ship and passengers have seen it all! Dont U dare miss this one! Phone: 581-710- , 2i-mont- li OUR SUNDAY BRUNCH IS 13 FLOORS ABOVE THE REST t W 5 N. 4b 75 ' passage into mag'c." with the incredible v (adults) $4.95 (children) a.m. - 2 p.m. $10.95 2j)rive 2 c non t i Vibracolor 566-823- 5 fx : GOOD VlSpN PERMANENTLY. WITHOUT LENSES ' of ! FRIENDS 8pm - S 10 50 An Evening of Solo Piano with Windham Hill Recording Artist GEORGE WINSTON hi n ill n iirnrnr Tickets: $13-$12-$1- 1 ' ij Now if is possible lor must neat sighted people to luvt'-excellent vision without lenses through .1 s.itesugicaH technique culled Radial Kcratotomy. .1st veat . mote than went this procedure qualified surgeons at I he I ac Institute of 10.000 people natioiiw ide undet Iixluv.it is xt t a med d.nlv bv Utah's leading vc cate lac iltfs I tab. 1 . icspr isc to tlte tremendi ms interest in RK sutget he I c Institute ot 1 'tali is offering a tree wci U sr m mar 1 s plaining the isks .tin! Kite tits ot this ik w medical technique. An nuliv iduul w ho has undergone his procedutc will he- m at tendance to disc us the cvpt fierce ol Radial Keratotomv. In 11 I For date and time ol LH. our seminars, please call .!66-2KU- The Eye Institute of Utah. I I.- ! FORMERLY FOTOMAT harp Tickets S12 50 'SYMPHONY HALL Saturday, May 25, 8 pm Floor Restaurant 13th IRI-Ut- 172-541- MAY 16. Order Fresh Halibut Croissants Pastry Buffet And Much, Much More. ABSOLUTELY FREE L. I I CAPITOL THEATRE Baron of Beef. Baked Ham, ; electro-acousti- your roll receive a second set Andreas is a masterful musician, ti c;ly an inspiration George Winston Seafood New burg 10 j & I Only n hi a id j off Otter Ends May 31. 1985 ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER Spectacular View of the Wasatch Front lomeiuade I lot Scones and Honey Butter Variety of Fresh Salads Fresh Fruit Yogurt Omelettes Made 'lo Tlrurs. (telephone will 20 Convenient Locations Mon. thru 0 Color Print Film. You color prints Inlihut or Reef Burgundy Im iurirs ail Dijim trimming', induding Iri sh linked French Bread p.m. Present this coupon when dropping of of SPECIAL i ) 2nd Set of Prints cheat SPRING WEEK NK1UT join the university travel club aboard the finest ship afloat with the camera of Monday . . 'tt Inti , Andre Previn lead the Pittsburgh Symphony for seven y$ai?- Last year he took the reins of the Los Angeles Philharmonic &Ui r.v, n k fIT Du-toi- TRAVELto CHINA R 533-610- 7 y K9 - 1 2(k but even though subscriptions were dropping and complaints about programming were increasing, Previn made little effort to appease his listeners. The question of Previns lack of involvement with his public is yet another issue not specific to Pittsburgh. There are few highly desirable conductors nowadays, and each is in constant demand, so the era of the resident music director is all hut nvpr , As conductors spend less time with their own orchestras and more on making guest appearances, orchestra managers like Turkin have taken over some of their duties. In Pittsburgh this led to conflicts, of which Previns departure is a particularly bitter and damaging illustration. Details of the disagreements between him and Turkin have never been made public, but they were reported to be largely responsible for Turkins being fired and rehired within days by a clearly divided board, and for Previns then suddenly terminating his Pittsburgh contract, although it had a year to run. The conflict left the orchestra tainted, which may remain a problem in attracting a new music director. It also has forced Turkin and Carr to scramble for available maestros to fill Previns cancellations and lead the orchestra while a permanent replacement is sought a process Turkin says may take three more years. In the meantime, conductor Lorin Maazel is serving as the orchestra's admusic consultant, a part-tim- e viser and infrequent conductor of the leaderless ensemble. Among the conductors who have appeared or will appear with the Pittsburgh and who have been mentioned as potential candidates are t, Christoph Eschenbach, Charles n Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Thomas, Rafael Fruehbeck de Burgos, Dennis Russell' Davies and S7.00 and SI 0.00 On Sale Utah Symphony Box Office 10 a. m. 5:30 p.m. Monday-Frida- Sunday, April for Pittsburgh audiences weaned on William Steinbergs Brahms and Beethoven performances. Making things worse, orchestra players and administrators say, was Previns conspicuous lack of enthusiasm for the local public appearances that are part of any music directors Informal duties today and that were, in Pittsburgh, increasingly important. As Spisto says, "A music director should be a positive public rela- AND HIS BIG BAND All Seats Reserved The Salt Lake Tribune ust Salt s I h Smili ake ( itv ) bun A(n I t.di ' v ? . |
