Author archive for leonard slatkin

  • AUGUST 2016

    After a terribly long trip from Nagoya, we arrived in Santa Fe, a place so opposite the Japanese cities we visited on the ONL tour that not only jet lag, but also cultural shock, set in. I am here for the duration of the summer, conducting five performances of Samuel Barber’s masterpiece, Vanessa. When I was here several years ago, I had suggested that this work would be a good one for me to do, and everyone seemed to agree. The fact that it has never been presented at the Santa Fe Opera, which is celebrating its 60th year, took everyone by surprise.

    Some of you will remember that a few years ago, I kept a diary, posting almost every day about what turned out to be an ugly chapter in my musical life. The Metropolitan Opera provided the backdrop for what would become an unfortunate confrontation with one of the major divas of today. The New York Times weighed in with “In Revival of Verdi, A New Note of Drama.” They followed up with an article about the great Verdi conductors. Although I was not on the list, it was probably the only time I will appear in a published article with the likes of Toscanini, Muti, and Kleiber.

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  • Musicians Join Detroit Symphony Orchestra Roster

    July 28, 2016

    The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has hired three orchestra musicians from national auditions held during the 2015-16 season: Eric Nowlin, Principal Viola; Amanda Blaikie, Second Flute; and James Ritchie, Assistant Principal Timpani/Section Percussion.

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  • Barber’s Gothic Romance “Vanessa” Opens July 30 at Santa Fe Opera

    July 25, 2016

    Leonard Slatkin will conduct Samuel Barber’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Vanessa, considered by many to be one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century.

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  • Marjorie Fisher Leaves Each DSO Musician $5,000

    July 15, 2016

    In a unique and deeply meaningful expression of her love for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and its individual artists, Marjorie S. Fisher included the men and women of the orchestra in her estate plans, bequeathing $5,000 to each full-time musician for a total gift of $390,000.

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  • On Sale Now: Kerry Turner Horn Concerto Recording Featuring Karl Pituch and DSO

    July 15, 2016

    The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has released a new digital EP on its Live from Orchestra Hall label. The recording features Principal Horn Karl Pituch performing Kerry Turner’s Horn Concerto, “The Gothic,” which the DSO premiered in concert on May 23, 2013.

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  • New DSO Recording Available for Pre-Order on iTunes

    July 7, 2016

    The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is releasing a recording of Kerry Turner’s Horn Concerto, featuring Principal Horn Karl Pituch, on its Live from Orchestra Hall label. The EP will be available for download on July 15th.

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  • JULY 2016

    Most of the time, I devote this space to simply recounting what has taken place over the previous month, at least as far as my musical life is concerned. Every so often I deviate from this if there are abrupt changes in the world that seem to shake all of us to the core, for better or worse. June was one of those months.

    Please keep in mind that I do not take political sides or engage in one-sided discourse. These observations are just my own personal thoughts on matters that mean a great deal to me.

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  • Orchestre National de Lyon Returns to Japan for Seven Concerts

    June 17, 2016

    The Orchestre National de Lyon returns to Japan for a two-week tour with seven performances in five cities: Sapporo, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya. The orchestra will perform five different programs highlighting works of Ravel, Mussorgsky, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch, and John Williams.

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  • DSO Hosts Marjorie S. Fisher Memorial Celebration

    June 14, 2016

    “Lead with your heart.”

    This was Mrs. Fisher’s mandate, and it will be her legacy in perpetuity, as she passed away peacefully this past Sunday morning with her family at her side.

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  • Detroit Welcomes the 2017 League of American Orchestras Conference

    June 13, 2016

    The Detroit Symphony Orchestra welcomes next year’s League of American Orchestras National Conference to Detroit, June 6-8, 2017. This premier event for orchestra professionals across the country provides a forum for emerging practices and innovation.

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