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The
Philadelphia Orchestra
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
DATE: January 9, 2001
News
Release
Christoph Eschenbach named
Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Successor
to Wolfgang Sawallisch announced; to
take up position with 2003-2004 concert season
(Philadelphia,
Tuesday, January 9, 2001) – Following intensive discussions over the past few
days, Christoph Eschenbach has agreed to become the seventh music director
of The Philadelphia Orchestra beginning in September 2003. The announcement
was made by Philadelphia Orchestra Association Chairman Richard L. Smoot at
a news conference following this morning’s meeting of the Association’s Board
of Directors. Details of the agreement will be finalized in a contract to be
prepared for signing at a later date. The announcement ends a three-year search
for a successor to Wolfgang Sawallisch, the Orchestra’s current music director.
Mr.
Eschenbach’s initial contract with Philadelphia will be for a period of three
years, beginning with the 2003-04 season, with annual options to extend the
term. As Music Director, he will conduct a minimum of 12 subscription weeks
each season at the Orchestra’s new home in the Kimmel Center for the Performing
Arts in Philadelphia and conduct a majority of the Orchestra’s appearances at
Carnegie Hall. In addition, he will lead the Orchestra regularly on tour and
conduct occasional concerts at the Orchestra’s summer residences: Philadelphia’s
outdoor Mann Center and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in upstate New York.
Christoph
Eschenbach is currently Chief Conductor of the NDR Symphony in Hamburg, Music
Director of the Orchestre de Paris, and Artistic Director of the Schleswig-Holstein
Music Festival. In the United States, he is Music Director of the Ravinia Festival,
where he leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra each summer in addition to appearing
in chamber music performances, and is also Conductor Laureate of the Houston
Symphony Orchestra, where he served as music director from 1988 to 1999.
Mr.
Eschenbach is making a major commitment to The Philadelphia Orchestra and will
establish a residence in Philadelphia at the time he becomes music director.
In
announcing the new Music Director, Mr. Smoot stated, “When our Search Committee
began this process three years ago, we asserted that we were looking not only
for a great conductor, but for the right leader to create the next chapter in
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s unique and brilliant story. It is our unanimous
conviction that we have found that leader in Christoph Eschenbach. He is a profound
musician who engenders world-wide respect, a creative thinker, and a person
of integrity who is choosing to make a deep commitment to this Orchestra and
this city. All of Philadelphia will feel the impact of this partnership, as
will the entire world.”
Philadelphia
Orchestra President Joseph H. Kluger added, “One of the most impressive things
about Christoph Eschenbach is that he is steeped in the great symphonic musical
traditions, yet has become one of the strongest advocates on the podium today
for contemporary music. Christoph’s programming ideas are both bold and provocative,
and his performances always deeply musical. He also understands thoroughly,
from his eleven years in Houston, what it takes to be an American music director,
and relishes the prospect of using that platform to make a real impact on our
community.”
“There is so much to be excited about,” said Mr. Eschenbach in addressing
the Orchestra’s Board of Directors prior to today’s news conference. “I have
always admired the great tradition and special qualities of The Philadelphia
Orchestra and am reminded of them every time I appear here. I truly believe
that there are no limits for this Orchestra and its great musicians. The Orchestra’s
new home at the Kimmel Center and the new performing spaces there will be
an enormous asset for Philadelphia. The building shows that this community
is prepared to stand behind us as we move forward into the new century, and
I find this enthusiasm particularly exciting. I believe in finding ways to
broaden horizons and create new opportunities — to dream great dreams and
then realize them.”
Christoph
Eschenbach made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, as a piano soloist, in February
1973 with guest conductor Claudio Abbado. He made his Philadelphia conducting
debut in October 1989 and, with appearances every season until 1996, conducted
the Orchestra in 12 different programs comprising more than 40 concerts. His
Philadelphia concerts have featured a diverse repertoire of works by composers
ranging from Beethoven to Bartók, Mahler to Mozart, Picker to Prokofiev, and
Schoenberg to Schumann. In 1990, he appeared as both conductor and piano soloist
(in Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D major, K.537) for performances in Philadelphia
and at Carnegie Hall. As Music Director Designate, he is next scheduled to
conduct the Orchestra for several weeks during the 2002-03 season.
The
Philadelphia Orchestra’s current music director, Wolfgang Sawallisch, asked
the Orchestra to begin identifying a successor three years ago, soon after his
74th birthday. Since that time, he has offered his advice and counsel to the
Search Committee, which included Board members, management, and musician representatives.
The Committee was chaired by Mr. Smoot, who was a Vice President of the Board
of Directors prior to being elected Board Chairman this past fall.
“I
have the greatest confidence in passing on the music directorship of my beloved
Orchestra to Christoph Eschenbach,” said Mr. Sawallisch in a statement read
at today’s press conference con-
gratulating Mr. Eschenbach
on his appointment. “He is a musician of the highest caliber, with wonderful
ideas for the future. I look forward very much to working with him.”
When
Mr. Eschenbach becomes Music Director in 2003, Mr. Sawallisch will assume the
title of Conductor Laureate, continuing in an active conducting role with the
Orchestra for at least six weeks each season. “We are particularly grateful
to Maestro Sawallisch for giving us the luxury of time,” noted Mr. Smoot. “With
his guidance and patience, we have been able to carry out this process in a
thorough, professional way, without being rushed. I am also very pleased that
The Philadelphia Orchestra will be able to have the benefit of working in depth
with Maestro Sawallisch in the future.”
Commenting
on his new Music Director, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Viola Roberto Díaz
stated: “Christoph Eschenbach is a man deeply committed to the music itself,
which he experiences not just as a conductor, but as a pianist and chamber musician
as well. He follows precisely in Philadelphia’s great conducting tradition as
a leader who can bring depth, inspiration, and personal conviction to the great
music we know well, while also introducing us to new works and ideas with energy
and insight. He is a great match for us, and with perfect timing as we are beginning
a new century in our new home.” Mr. Díaz is a member of the Orchestra’s Board
of Directors and served on the Music Director Search Committee.
When
he takes up the position in 2003, Mr. Eschenbach will be the seventh Music Director
of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He will hold the Walter and Leonore Annenberg
Music Director Chair, named at the end of this past year in recognition
of a generous endowment gift from the Annenberg Foundation and currently held
by Mr. Sawallisch.
The
16-member Music Director Search Committee was comprised of Board members Richard
L. Smoot (Committee Chairman), John G. Christy, Catherine R. Clifton, David
P. Eastburn, Peter G. Ernster, Carole F. Haas, Martin A. Heckscher, and Peter
A. Benoliel (Board Chairman 1995-99); Orchestra musicians Luis Biava, David
Cramer, Roberto Diaz, Loren Lind, and Anthony Orlando; Director of Artistic
Planning and Operations Simon Woods and Orchestra President Joseph H. Kluger.
The
Philadelphia Orchestra was founded in 1900 under Fritz Scheel (1900-06), who
was followed as music director by: Carl Pohlig (1906-12), Leopold Stokowski
(1912-40), Eugene Ormandy (1936-80), Riccardo Muti (1980-92), and Wolfgang Sawallisch
(1993-2003). The Orchestra has distinguished itself as one of the leading symphonic
ensembles in the world through a century of brilliant performances, historic
international tours, and best-selling recordings. The Orchestra marked its 100th
Birthday on November 16, 2000, culminating a Centennial Celebration shared with
audiences at home and around the world. In December 2001, the Orchestra moves
to its new home at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, inaugurating a
state-of-the-art concert facility designed especially for it. Mr. Sawallisch
leads the Orchestra’s first concert at Kimmel on December 15, 2001.
Source: The Philadephia
Orchestra
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