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Breaking News:

CSO music director will leave in 2010

By Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 9, 2008 at 5:41 p.m.
Updated July 9, 2008 at 9:53 p.m.

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Jeffrey Kahane has decided to leave the Colorado Symphony after the 2009-10 season.

Photo by Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra

Jeffrey Kahane has decided to leave the Colorado Symphony after the 2009-10 season.

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Colorado Symphony music director Jeffrey Kahane, in a surprising move, announced on Wednesday that he will leave the orchestra after the 2009-10 season.

Kahane said the decision is based partly on maintaining his health and on a desire to increase his activity as a pianist.

"To maintain my chops and to continue the work as a music director of a year-round orchestra is not sustainable."

The music director admitted that his decision was influenced by a case of extreme hypertension in 2007 that forced him to cancel 10 weeks of concerts.

"It made me realize that I'm human," he said with a laugh. "There was a time when I was convinced I could do everything. But you can't do everything."

Kahane, who took over from Marin Alsop in 2005, signed a two- year extension with the orchestra this week. His first contract was for three years, the typical length for such agreements.

"This has nothing to do with the orchestra," Kahane said. "When it came time to think about renewal (of the music directorship contract), I realized that I wasn't ready."

CSO President Doug Adams said that when conversations with the conductor had begun more than a year ago, it was clear Kahane had some reservations about remaining.

"So (the decision to leave) was not a total shock to me. I understand that he gave it thoughtful consideration."

Adams said that a committee to select Kahane's successor has been formed. The committee, headed by former board chairman Cy Harvey, consists of six symphony musicians and six board trustees.

It's unlikely that the CSO will have a music director in place for the 2010-11 season, Adams said, but he expressed hope that the position will be filled when the orchestra moves back into a remodeled Boettcher Hall.

Earlier Wednesday, Kahane informed the players of his decision. "It was pretty emotional," the conductor said. "A lot of them were not expecting it."

In an interview with the Rocky in the fall of 2007, Kahane expressed joy in working with the CSO. "I'm enjoying a positive relationship with (the players). This is one of the hardest-working ensembles I've seen."

Kahane always had expressed his intention to maintain his dual career as conductor and piano soloist. Ironically, he'll be doing both in a Mozart concert with the CSO today at the Arvada Center Amphitheatre.

shulgoldm@RockyMountain News or 303-954-5296

Comments

  • July 10, 2008

    9:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ecoscience writes:

    The CSO and Kahane are some of the true gems of Colorado. Let's give them a first rate concert hall.

  • July 10, 2008

    1:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    perbell writes:

    Maestro, it will not be the same looking out over the orchestra from the bass section of the CSO Chorus without you being there...your emotional delivery and empathy with the music, the players and the singers will be incredibly missed. Best of luck in whatever you choose to do...and May You Be Blessed Like Crazy!

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