Chief Everything Officer
If the symphony takes a poll, what advice would you give them about the organization and qualities you'd like to see in a new CEO? Today's article in the Enquirer clipped off what was perhaps the most important quote of all from industry pros --
"Orchestras need to matter to people in their community who may never come to a subscription concert," Henry Fogel told me.
By the way, watch the terrific video with the article of Paavo talking about rehearsing the orchestra. Glenn Hartong is videographer/producer. And, listen to a clip from the CSO's new Prokofiev CD.
posted by Janelle Gelfand at 8:58 AM
10 Comments:
at 2/23/2008 07:58:00 PM 
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at 2/23/2008 11:27:00 PM 
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at 2/24/2008 12:23:00 AM 
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at 2/24/2008 10:17:00 AM 
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at 2/24/2008 01:43:00 PM 
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at 2/24/2008 03:00:00 PM 
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at 2/24/2008 05:18:00 PM 
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at 2/24/2008 10:43:00 PM 
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at 2/25/2008 08:45:00 AM 
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at 2/25/2008 08:48:00 AM 
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Post a Comment*The Columbus Symphony is not a regional orchestra by the industry definition. It will be if the cuts go through however.
I think the Symphony needs to face the fact that Paavo was a bust. The symphony expected their young sex symbol to draw more people and it just hasn't happened.
Janelle you can kiss his tail all you want, but the fact is the crowds are still awful, and he is no better with audiences and PR then Cobos was. They need a conductor who is going to make classical music exciting and fun and they need someone in charge of the concert experience. The symphony does not survive unless they provide more sensory stimulation than just watching old people play instruments. Finally, they need the union to give in and accept less concerts.
You might read this post and think "this person doesn't understand classical music." No, I understand it very well, in fact, its my profession, but the rest of American doesn't; and those are the people who you are trying to get to pay money.
In my opinion, it's not enough for the next CEO just to work behind the scenes. She or he needs to become a public figure as well.
Matt, you are SPOT ON!! Whenever I bring up PJ to anyone, they look at me like I'm nuts, because the classical brain-trust just loves him.
Cobos brought sheer boredom to the CSO experience. Paavo might even be worse.
Again, the CSO CANNOT cater to JUST the symphony literatti. They already have that audience. They need to appeal to the people of this region.
And putting boring, foreign, no-personality music directors in front of the public just isn't getting it done.
In fact, it harms more than it hurts.
I don't care how technically excellent they are.
So, CSO--do you want to appeal to classical fans?? Keep the Paavos coming. Do you want to appeal to the people of this city? Then, put someone in place who we can relate to, and enjoy being in the same room with.
Look what Kunzel's personality, energy, obvious joy has done for the pops. THAT is what is needed.
I don't know, isn't this obvious to anyone else but me and Matt?
I've been harping on this for years...
In order for the CSO to move forward in the 21st century a different approach is needed. What was done in the past just is not working anymore. It can't be business as usual in a model that really hasn't changed much during the last decades of the 20th century when entertainment options for the public were finite but changing as opposed to now in the begining of the 21st century where they are virtually unlimited and who knows what new competition technology will bring for symphonic music.
The CSO should be considering a leader who brings a strong business sense to the table as well as being oriented to the bottom line and a marketing mindset. A background in the the arts should not be the litmus test to be placed on the short list of prospects. A successful track record and vision in busness (if it happens to be in the arts so much the better)to see what needs to be corrected and where the organization needs to be going is paramount. Serious problems related to long term finances and endowment utilization need to be addressed not to mention plummeting attendance and subscription and single ticket sales as well as skyrocketing operating costs. The ability to make symphonic music relevent to the consuming (read:spending)public has to be the overriding mission of this new president and the staff he/she puts in place to implement these directives.
My concern is that the boards that oversee this public institution are so massive I'm not sure they are in touch with the 21st century needs of this organization and industry are let alone the desires of patrons who shell out the bucks at the ticket window week in and week out to support an institution that has been intrusted to them. For the most part their participation is isolated and frankly rather parochial.
The opportunity that exists here is that the CSO can transition for the organization that is now known for having the longest serving president of a symphony in the United States to an organzation that can be the template for the rest of the industry to follow. The past was great, but this is now and we have to move upward and onward.
Steve Deiters/Oakley
PJ may be a bust but by that definition all music directors are busts. No MD has been able to truly reverse the tide of this industry. PJ is a real musician. He may simple be working in an industry that very few care about. We in this industry need to find a way to try and bring people to us or figure out a way to go to them with integrity. I just don't think it is fair to attack one conductor and not all of them. Especially those artists working out of the real major markets.
Steve, you often mention the need to have a different business model, focusing on the bottom line, etc. What exactly would this organization look like---what kind music would they play? Can you be more specific?
I never meant to attack PJ's musicianship. He is a fabulous musician. I question his ability to connect to an audience. I also disagree that all conductors are busts. I think Neal Gittleman has done a wonderful job connecting to audiences through his lecture/concert series and his educational concerts in Dayton. He might not be as a creative of a musician as PJ and his interpretations may be on the bland side, but he has people coming to his concerts; at least the last time I was there he did.
Personally I think PJ needs to be more active in the community, more willing to do educational type things, and more warm and friendly when being interviewed. I get the snobby European feeling from him way too often. That might work in NY, but Cincinnati likes hometown type people, and PJ will never be as loved unless he can take on that kind of attitude. I think that's possible without sacrificing quality of the music or his legitimacy as an artist. If it's not possible then we need to begin to question the viability of a major symphony orchestra at a time in our sociological history where we are used to having large personalities hold our hand and tell us what we should consume.
You know, I was going to mention Gittleman and Reynolds up in Dayton, but I ended my last post before I did.
Gracious, welcoming characters. Make you glad you came. Act like they care that you are there.
Honestly, maybe I am somehow missing something, but this just seem SO obvious to me. I got so excited when Cobos left, only to be majorly disappointed at the appointment of yet another no-personality European.
You are just not going to attract new folks to the symphony by a cold snobbish conductor. He is the host. He is the welcoming committee. I'm sorry, but that's part of the job now if you actually want to get people to come to the performances.
As Steve said: this model ain't workin' folks.
What is needed are talented assistant/associate conductors on the staff to fill those important educational and outreach needs. We keep hiring very bland, inexperienced conductors to fill these important needs when a person with the educational 'gift' is required.
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