One of the most important developments in American classical music so far this century is the rise of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. It has become a showcase for talent, an original programme, and a strong financial force that makes it the envy of other orchestras.
But now the institution faces one of the biggest challenges in decades.
First, Gustavo Dudamel, the orchestra’s popular music director, announced that he will retire in 2026 to become the next music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. A few months later, Chief Executive Chad Smith, who has championed and promoted the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s seminal programme, announced that he was stepping down from running the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was one of Deborah Borda’s last remaining top deputies and led the orchestra for 17 years until she stepped down as her chief executive to take over the New York Philharmonic six years ago. reached great heights.
When architect Frank Gehry, who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the futuristic, steel-framed home of the Los Angeles Orchestra, first heard the news that Smith was leaving the company, it was, at first and frankly, a double blow. “I was scared,” he said. departure. But he later explained that given the orchestra’s track record of successful reforms, he remains hopeful.
“I’ve been through it,” Gary said. “It’s a moving thing that keeps growing and changing. That’s the way the world works. Change has been the motto of orchestras around the world.”
Dudamel said he would remain in Los Angeles for three more seasons and said he was confident the orchestra would find the right person to direct, praising a “very, very, very solid executive team.” .
“I’m not even zero percent, not even zero percent,” he said.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic has a decades-long history of discovering talent. Ernest Fleischmann, who led the orchestra from 1969 to 1998, revitalized a lucrative summer program at the Hollywood Bowl, worked hard to build Disney Hall, and hired a young Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director. rice field. Borda used these successes to open halls, hire Dudamel, foster ties with the city and advocate for new music. The board once again exudes confidence that it can find the right leadership.
“Any other organization that is less cohesive, less organized and doesn’t have such an experienced team would have taken a bigger hit,” said longtime board member David Bonett. I will,” he says.
In fact, philharmonic orchestras have rarely been tested like this before. Borda, Smith, and Dudamel all helped shape the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra into a pioneering and respected institution. Dudamel is so popular with orchestras and audiences that his name appears on rosters at Walt Disney Hall and the Philharmonic’s summer venue, the Hollywood Bowl, so little matter what he plays, A large crowd is guaranteed.
Dudamel, who returned to Disney Hall for the first time since February on Thursday night, came out to cheers and shouts to conduct the world premiere by Ellen Reid and Gabriella Smith, performing Beethoven’s 7th with the Philharmonic Orchestra. After leading the troupe, he left the stage two hours after receiving a long standing ovation. Symphony.
The turmoil in what has been called “America’s most important orchestra” has left some people reeling. “This is the moment,” said Brian Lauritzen, host and producer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s national syndicated radio broadcast, local classical music station KUSC. “There is certainly uncertainty. This is a watershed moment for organizations.”
Some band members said they were upset, but others welcomed the new chapter, including those who had experienced such changes before. Christopher Still, who has played trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra since 2007, said when Salonen left, “We all thought, ‘What’s going to happen?'” Who is this kid from Venezuela? and see what happened. ”
“The LA Phil has always been at the forefront of taking opportunities,” Still said. “We will jump, and after the jump we will make a helicopter. This time we will do it without a leader.”
Dudamel’s decision to leave for New York came as a surprise to some within the organization, but it shouldn’t come as a total surprise. There have been rumors for some time that Borda, who has a close relationship with Dudamel, is trying to recruit him to New York. Dudamel, 42, will have been with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 17 years by the time he moves to New York, and his tenure has been long.
But by all appearances, Mr. Smith’s departure was unexpected. Smith told his colleagues he was reluctant to work in Los Angeles for another five years, and he was reluctant to find a replacement for Dudamel, with whom he had a close relationship. He is from the East Coast and his family still lives there.
Some musicians said they were disappointed to see Smith gone.
Viola player Minor L. Wetzel said he was “very sad that Chad is leaving” and called the news “heartbreaking”.
Smith said he didn’t think it would put the orchestra in a weak position.
“Times of change are times when organizations can be thoughtful and introspective about where they want to be and make decisions that are not a continuation of what they have been doing,” he said.
Ara Guzelimian, a longtime arts director, said Smith’s departure came as a shock but could benefit the arts organization in the long run.
“If he’s starting to feel his efficacy and the expiration date is approaching, then the timing makes sense,” he said. “There is such a thing as an exact professional sales deadline that both you and the organization need updating. “
The first task is to appoint a new chief executive who will run the orchestra and oversee the search for a new music director. The fact that Mr. Dudamel is not out for three years gives a breather.
“They can take their time,” Salonen said. “They have a very strong guest conductor and Gustavo will be in for two more seasons. So it’s never a crisis.”
Thomas L. BeckmenThe chairman of the board said a committee has been appointed to find Mr Smith’s successor and hopes the search will be completed in time to help Mr Dudamel choose a successor for Mr Smith. said.
It will be a challenge. Board members said there was a relative shortage of experienced music executives. “It’s not that deep,” Beckmen said in an interview. “I’ve started to virtually go through the top 25 orchestras in the US, and I don’t have a lot of power. But there are a few, but I think LA is a pretty prestigious job these days.”
But given the close-knit and competitive world of the American orchestra, this kind of investigation is always complicated and dangerous. It took nearly a year to replace Bolda, and Simon Woods, who came to Los Angeles from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, was selected and suddenly resigned 18 months after taking office. This paved the way for the appointment of Smith, who was then chief operating officer.
“When leaders change, it’s normal to have anxiety and uncertainty,” said veteran orchestra administrator Thomas W. Morris.
Morris said a priority for the Philharmonic Orchestra was to find a chief executive to manage the transition “very quickly.”
“They need someone who understands what the orchestra has to do with the community and what the orchestra can be artistically,” he says.
Some board members said they were optimistic and expected considerable interest in the music director’s job. “Look at the people the LA Phil has found over the last 60 years,” said board member Rebetha Bowers. “The Los Angeles market has diversity, different genres: Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, Ford’s Theatre, Disney Hall. This is a dream job.”
The Board of Directors has appointed Chief Operating Officer Daniel Song as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Beckman said the board will hire consultants to find a permanent replacement for Smith. The new music director is selected by a committee of two musicians, two board members, and two organizational executives, with the approval of the board.
Beckmen said a long line of successful music directors dating back half a century gave him confidence for the next chapter. “We were very lucky,” he said. “I hope the sun will shine on us again.”
