Second job for Spano

Second job for Spano

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

January 05, 2024

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.

Comments

  • Former RI Phil Musician says:

    He replaces Bramwell Tovey, after Tovey’s passing in 2022. Tovey replaced Rachleff.

  • OSF says:

    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?

    • all music is local says:

      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.

      • MakeMusicGreatAgain says:

        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.

    • SlippedChat says:

      I would ask, “Have you spent much time in the unending automotive sprawl of Atlanta?” but then, that still wouldn’t explain Fort Worth.

    • Outsider says:

      My guess is, they asked and he said yes.

  • James says:

    Third job actually, as he is also MD at the Aspen Music Festival & School.

  • Monty Earleman says:

    Actually, 3rd job- he’s Music Director of the Aspen Musi Festival too-

  • PLL says:

    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.”

  • Papageno says:

    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.

  • Zandonai says:

    Because Spano is not a young dashing whippersnapper like, say, Makkela.

  • Moenkhaus says:

    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.

  • MOST READ TODAY: