US music director gets 8-year extension
OrchestrasThe York Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania has renewed music director Lawrence Golan for eight more years, leading up to its centennial year.
Golan, 57, was appointed in 2014. He is also music director of the Denver Philharmonic in Colorado, the Yakima Symphony in Washington state and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre at the University of Denver where he is director of orchestral studies and professor of conducting.
Glad to see this. Lawrence is a fine conductor and it is nice to see him appreciated in York.
I feel cheated, where is the list of performances this pinist has given with this conductor? Or is it a subtle attempt to gain future engagements in York? In any case, nothing New (in) York!
I performed with the American Symphony Orchestra with Dr. Lawrence Golan on tour to China in 2011/2012. I have worked with many famous conductors including Bernstein. However, I found Golan to rather cold on the podium and absolutely arrogant! I was not the only member of the American Festival Orchestra who felt that way. So I find it ironic that he is being offered eight more years with any orchestra!
He believes in the “No tactus” method of conducting. To me this means no beat, no expression, and no leadership. This is fine if you are conducting an orchestra that drives like a Ferrari such as the Berlin Philharmonic. They can play anything. But can we really trust a car without a driver?
I guess if you yell at the orchestra and act like they just made a bad smell in your presence, like Golan did, that some orchestras will think you are a great conductor. However, Maestro Bernstein NEVER acted this way when I worked with him!
His colleagues in Denver used to get angry that he took so many sabbaticals. But when they realized that it kept him away from the school, they realized they were the fools for wanting him to be around. Your accounts are by all means correct.
Golan is quite talented in many ways. A fine violinist and he really knows the repertoire. A bit aloof on the podium? Perhaps. Very much down to business. His lawsuit in Golan v. Holder was quite important in trying to protect performers from copyright infringement. But what is it about conductors that they take on so many jobs? Is it an ego problem? Can’t be the money. There are so many conductors out there without a “home”.
But who cares about all these you describe if he doesn’t have a heart? Everybody at that environment (music school, conducting school etc., new student, all students, faculty) are the same: pathologically aloof, elitist, suspicious of one another, empathy deprived.) How on earth can they create their so called music? Sad..
When will orchestra boards in the United States begin to realize that this practice of passively succumbing to inertia and renewing a conductor’s contract over and over not only leaves a bad taste in the musicians’ mouths but is directly attributable to the dramatic decline in audience numbers. Grow a spine and get to work, there are many fine and talented conductors on the market. Just remember, their shelf-life is limited, and it is best for the long-term trajectory of the ORCHESTRA to keep this in mind. You have a job, take it seriously.