Spano Accepts Conducting Position in Atlanta

Faculty member takes prestigious appointment

Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Robert Spano was named music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO)Wednesday. Spano, a native of Ohio, graduated from Oberlin in 1984 and is generally regarded in modern music circles as one of America's top modern conductors.

In a Fall, 1999 interview in the Oberlin Conservatory News, Spano described the position of music director as "the artistic conscience of an institution, as well as being the public face of the institution: a kind of ambassador."

The Atlanta Symphony boasts a budget of $21 million as well as a near $70 million endowment, and claims status as the largest performing arts establishment in the Southeast. The American Symphony Orchestra League ranks the ASO 13th in national budget size.

Although Spano has become widely known for innovative contemporary programming in Brooklyn, he expects to adapt his style to fit the more traditional musical tastes of Atlanta's Southern audience. In a Feb 9 New York Times article, Spano said, "What we've done in Brooklyn is to respond to the realities of New York's cultural life...Atlanta is a very different city, and we need to find out what this orchestra should be doing there." In the Conservatory News interview, Spano said, "While singers clearly have distinct personalities, so do orchestras."

While conceding in the Conservatory News interview that much contemporary music had become banal, he sounded positive regarding the future of new music. "There was a time when new music was a kind of ghetto - maybe that's too pejorative a word - but it was relegated to a special series, performed by special groups. Now the contemporary music scene is opening up."

Spano will conduct the Atlanta Orchestra for 5 weeks this season and will begin full time in the 2001-2002 season when he will conduct for 14 weeks each season. He will also work with Scottish music director Donald Runnicles, who currently directs the San Francisco Opera. Spano's contract is for four years.

In the Conservatory News interview, Spano articulated his enjoyment in working with both professionals and students. "Working with professional musicians with a mastery of instrument and repertoire is exciting. But it's also exciting to work with students who approach the music with questions and a fresh eye. It keeps it fresh for me and reminds me how much I love it."

Spano served as assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1990-1993, has conducted American orchestras and European ensembles and directs the conducting fellowship program at Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts.

Director of Conservatory Public Relations Linda Shockley stressed how well Spano's appointment to ASO conductor reflected on Oberlin. "This reflects really well on Oberlin. Not only is he a professor but he's also an alumnus also. Any time an alumnus does well it reflects well on the Conservatory."

Shockley didn't know if Spano's new position would affect the amount of time he spent at Oberlin. He last returned to Oberlin to conduct Oberlin's production of "Manon". Spano is currently in Cardiff, Wales, conducting the production of "Cosi Fan Tutte".