Maestro move: Job for Jeffrey
OrchestrasThe US conductor Jeffrey Kahane, who led the LA Chamber Orchestra for 20 years, has been appointed music director of the San Antonio Philharmonic. Kahane, 67 first conducted the orchestra in 1992 and remained on friendly terms with the musicians.He takes up the tole this summer.
San Antonio Philharmonic Executive Director Roberto Treviño says of Kahane’s appointment, “The San Antonio Philharmonic’s dedication to inclusivity across all segments of our community is underscored with the selection of Jeffrey Kahane, who understands the significance of engaging with all members of the community.”
Best luck to the conductor, who is stepping into a pretty challenging situation.
I mean no disrespect to Mr. Kahane but this is a most curious choice. One wonders why he wanted this job at this stage in his career/life.
Perhaps he was recruited to step into whatever that “challenging situation” is. Since he left LACO, he has been back as guest conductor a few times and has been teaching at USC. All seems pretty nice.
Maybe he wants to be an orchestra re-builder? I wish them the best of luck.
It’s not curious at all. Jeffrey is a native of Southern California. He and I took piano lessons from the very same teacher, Howard Weisel. Unfortunately he’s not going to end up with the LAPO at age 68. Nor the SFO. is well beyond the sophistication of orchestra in the central California Valley. San Antonio, Texas is a very sophisticated city has the opportunity to do more good here than virtually anybody else, based on his experience. Also, he will fit into the community well. Many of my friends have ended up in San Antonio having started their early professional careers in Los Angeles, only defined a significantly improved quality of life there.
I lived and worked in San Antonio for 3 years. “Sophisticated?” Not when it comes to classical music. Yes, the cost of living is low and it is a very nice city for many other reasons.
As someone who has observed Mr. Kahane’s career for decades, I don’t find this to be a curious decision in the least. I am a piano teacher living in Santa Rosa, California, where I have attended concerts of the Santa Rosa Symphony since youth. When Mr. Kahane was named music director of the orchestra in the mid-90’s, not only did the subscription audience triple in the space of a few years, but attendance at his legendary pre-concert talks increased tenfold during his time here. The buzz remains for every concert he returns to direct. Among the stellar artists he brought to Santa Rosa when they were still just becoming known were Lang Lang, Hilary Hahn, Alisa Weilerstein, and Thomas Quasthoff, who sang an unforgettable performance of the Britten War Requiem with our orchestra, a performance which involved hundreds of kids from the local high school, Shortly after, he began his 20 year stint as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, which had just barely survived a brush with bankruptcy. One thing I’ve admired about Jeffrey Kahane is that he puts his community first. His career decisions aren’t based on what those decisions will do for him, but rather on what he can do for a community. I can’t speak to the level of “sophistication” in San Antonio but I am absolutely certain Mr. Kahane’s primary interest is bringing the greatest music and the best music-making to the greatest number of people. Being a fluent Spanish-speaker will undoubtedly serve the mission of inclusivity. He surely would not have taken on this challenge if he did not firmly believe he could do for San Antonio and its orchestra what he has done in Santa Rosa and Los Angeles.
He’s a fine musician and if he engages deeply with the community, playing piano and chamber music, etc., I think he can build up that situation. He was not my favorite music director of the Colorado Symphony. In the wake of Marin Alsop, the programming was dull, and it never felt like the chemistry worked well, the best concerts were those he led from the piano. But it’s clear that he’s a terrific musician with a lot to offer, so congrats to SA Phil!