Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Atlanta orchestra leaders staying on


ATLANTA - The musical director and principal guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are renewing their contracts.

Orchestra officials said Monday that musical director Robert Spano's contract will be extended through the 2013-14 season and principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles' contract, at Runnicles' request, through the 2010-11 season. Runnicles will continue with the orchestra after 2010-11 through guest-conducting appearances.

Spano and Runnicles began their creative partnership during the 2001-02 season.

"It's very unusual to have such strong talent in two positions bump up against each other and brainstorm annually about the total program of the orchestra," said Allison Vulgamore, the orchestra's president and CEO.

She called their commitment an assurance of excellence.

From the start, Spano said, he wanted a long-term relationship with the Atlanta orchestra. He said he is especially happy to continue recording with the orchestra, which has won 26 Grammys over the last three decades.

Runnicles said that while "new artistic challenges in Europe preclude a longer, formal extension to my commitment to Atlanta, it is my fervent desire that our relationship will continue for many, many more years to come."

The Atlanta orchestra will open a new amphitheater in May in the northern Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. Officials hope it will provide new revenue to support the orchestra, which has faced financial struggles.

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