Robert Spano, music director of the Fort Worth Symphony, has been named principal conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic. He starts right away.
Spano, 61, was music director of the Atlanta Symphony for 20 years, ending in 2021.
In RI he replaces the late Bramwell Tovey, who replaced the late Larry Rachleff in 2022.
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He replaces Bramwell Tovey, after Tovey’s passing in 2022. Tovey replaced Rachleff.
I don’t mean to disparage either Spano or any orchestra, but neither Fort Worth nor Rhode Island seems like a step up for Spano after Atlanta. What happened?
Spano is an orchestra builder. He enjoys the challenge, and believes in the endeavor of making high quality music on the local level. He invites composers into the process and forges strong relationships between the musicians and community. He is a model of how it should be done.
Like most phrases anymore, “orchestra builder” is getting tossed around too much. The Aspen Music Festival is a shell of what it used to be. His collaborative work with modern composers in Atlanta was very progressive, not to mention his work with Donald Runnicles.
Conductors don’t have as much power as they used to. They can change the culture a bit.
I would ask, “Have you spent much time in the unending automotive sprawl of Atlanta?” but then, that still wouldn’t explain Fort Worth.
My guess is, they asked and he said yes.
Third job actually, as he is also MD at the Aspen Music Festival & School.
Actually, 3rd job- he’s Music Director of the Aspen Musi Festival too-
Note this position is not permanent:
https://www.riphil.org/blog/ri-philharmonic-announces-robert-spano-as-principal-conductor
“The appointment as Principal Conductor is effective immediately. Spano will remain in the post until the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School hires a new, permanent Music Director. That search is ongoing.”
Ouch… poor guy.
It is a shame, because he is a fine musician and much better conductor than many of the charlatans in our profession.
Because Spano is not a young dashing whippersnapper like, say, Makkela.
Also remember that very few of the top 10 orchestras in the US are willing to engage a gay music director with a strong personality. He is an amazingly collaborative conductor with an unmatched intellect.