Archive of monthly comments from Leonard Slatkin

2013

JANUARY, 2013
Happy New Year!
     The world did not end so now we must await the next apocalyptic prediction. In the meantime, there was a lot to catch up with during December. [ more ]

FEBRUARY, 2013
When exactly do people stop wishing each other a “Happy New Year”?
     This one started out with quite a varied repertoire, and some interesting venues along the way. [ more ]

MARCH, 2013
When asked who he thought was the greatest living composer, Leonard Bernstein replied, “Beethoven!”
     Having spent three full weeks traversing the nine Symphonies, I can only come to the same conclusion. [ more ]

APRIL, 2013
The end of March means one thing: Baseball is back! It is not as if I do not enjoy the other sports and certainly the University of Michigan seems to be doing well in the basketball tournament, but for me it is about being in the outdoors, for the most part, and following a couple of teams for the next half a year.
     Oh, there was music as well. [ more ]

THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION
Rather than wait, I felt compelled to write sooner regarding my sojourn to Moscow at the beginning of the month. [ more ]

MAY, 2013
April in Lyon. Spring decided to wait a little before showing up.
     After the Moscow adventure it was nice to get back to my other home. These would be the final two weeks in the Auditorium, as it will be closed for about 5 months while crews repair the air conditioning and heating systems. Also, the organ is undergoing a transplant. New pipes and a general cleaning are in store for the instrument. [ more ]

NEW YORK EDITION - MAY, 2013
From Motown to Manhattan. That was the slogan in Detroit for May.
     For the first time in 17 years, the DSO was headed for Carnegie Hall, part of the Spring for Music Festival. The basic concept was that orchestras were to present program ideas and those with the most intriguing would be invited to participate, six in total each season. [ more ]

2012

JANUARY, 2012
How does that song go? “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
     December proved the ditty correct, at least for me. Two weeks were spent in Lyon performing American music. A festival had been devised around my arrival this season and I thought it would be a good idea for musicians and audience to get to know me through some of the music created in the States. [ more ]

FEBRUARY, 2012
More than 6,000 miles separated conducting engagements in January. At least it was only one flight between Detroit and Tokyo, so the 14-hour trip was not unbearable. When you are dealing with a 14-hour time change, no amount of preparation can offset jet lag. [ more ]

MARCH, 2012
It has been my habit to more or less inform readers of my comings and goings during a given month. This time I am going to start in the middle, dealing with a musical issue. [ more ]

APRIL, 2012
Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Friedrichshafen, Heidelberg, and Vienna. Almost enough for a German baseball team. This was a tour schedule that took me to all these places over the course of 9 days.
     Everything went well but you would never have known it from the way this European jaunt started. [ more ]

MAY, 2012
“You’re baddass!”
     These two words were spoken to me following a concert in one of Detroit’s suburbs. A young woman came up to me, looked me in the eyes and that is what she said.
     After figuring out that this was a compliment, I realized that perhaps there are ways to reach the younger generation that I had not yet contemplated. [ more ]

MID-MAY, 2012
Kid Rock and Roll over Beethoven
     The question on everyone’s lips was, “What is this going to be like?”
     The answer was, “Fabulous.”
     Over the years I have done my share of concerts with acts from the popular music culture. ...
     But that was in the past. Now a new collaboration emerged, involving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and one Kid Rock, a kind of bad boy of rap and Southern Rock. He has been a part of the Detroit cultural scene for most of his 41 years and has a huge fan base here. [ more ]

JUNE, 2012
Winding down a season usually means that the overall pace slackens a bit. Not this time.
     The first week of May was relatively calm, with only one set of concerts in Detroit at Orchestra Hall. My brother joined us for a performance of the Korngold Cello Concerto, written for our mother more than 60 years ago! Fred and I have always enjoyed doing this piece together and everyone was caught up not only with the story behind the story, but the performance as well. [ more ]

LATE JUNE, 2012
We are just about a month away from the publication of Conducting Business on July 24. Amadeus Press has graciously allowed me to post the introductory chapter. I hope this makes some of you interested to read more. [ more ]

JULY, 2012
Wrapping up seasons is an occasion to reflect on what has been done or accomplished over the past months. In this case, my first year as music director in Lyon had to be measured as a fine success. But before I led the last two weeks of concerts there, I had one wonderful week in my old stomping grounds. [ more ]

AUGUST, 2012
As I write this, we are less than a week from the publication of “Conducting Business.” The first copies are now in my hands and it looks very good. There was just the slightest tremble in my hand as I ripped open the box containing the tome and wondering if this really was happening. [ more ]

AUGUST, 2012, #2
Leonard goes to a Rock Concert (sort of)
Several months ago, I vowed that I would actually take a vacation for most of the summer. That meant little conducting, a bit of study and a lot of sleep. One of the downsides of the conducting profession is the inevitable life on the road, so I decided to spend the majority of down time at home. We have a lovely house located far enough from downtown as to be thought of as an escape from work. [ more ]

MID-AUGUST, 2012
There are some promises that must be broken occasionally. After vowing a real vacation this summer, I accepted an invitation to be one of the participants in John Williams’ 80th birthday concert at Tanglewood. The actual date of his coming into the world was in February, but John only wanted one celebration and it was to take place in the Berkshires. [ more ]

SEPTEMBER, 2012
Some people loathe going back to work. I relish it, especially when it entails conducting one of the biggest masterpieces in the repertoire. [ more ]

OCTOBER, 2012
Taxi cabs with doors that open automatically. Warm toilet seats that salute you when you enter the restroom. People bowing respectfully when you enter and leave a building.
     Yes, it was great to be back in Japan. [ more ]

NOVEMBER, 2012
It is that time of year again. No, I am not speaking of the complex season of concerts, but rather the baseball playoffs.
     And I am potentially in big trouble this time. [ more ]

DECEMBER, 2012
Another busy period, one filled with great music and sports heartbreak. The Cardinals did not make it to the World Series but the Tigers did. They needn’t have bothered. San Francisco took them out in four straight games.
     I had a wager with Michael Tilson Thomas. Whichever team lost, the losing conductor had to wear the opposition’s cap to a rehearsal. [ more ]

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