Celebrating Jahja Ling a Conversation Between the Maestro and Ceo Martha Gilmer
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CELEBRATING JAHJA LING A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MAESTRO AND CEO MARTHA GILMER I always remind myself that when you think you have done something great and the orchestra has played something magical, that’s fi ne, but remember: MUSIC NEVER STOPS. The possibility of exploring what’s inside is LIMITLESS. FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DEAR FRIENDS, Without question Jahja Ling’s legacy as Music Director of the San Diego Symphony will be felt for decades to come. So many adjectives come to mind when thinking of Jahja’s tenure here. Of all of them the word “steadfast” rises above them. We all know of Jahja’s integrity, devotion and drive to make the San Diego Symphony Orchestra a fine-tuned instrument that has a cohesive and Radack Lauren Credit: Photo voluptuous sound and technical brilliance. He devoted himself to this orchestra above all others, and carefully created season after season of music that would showcase the orchestra’s strengths. As we look at the programs of his final season as Music Director we see the very heart of the music that Jahja Ling embraced – Brahms, Sibelius, Mahler and Bruckner. With each choice we see his desire to reach toward the profound in music, to attempt to touch something that is rooted deeply in the human spirit and extends to the infinite and divine. In building the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Jahja Ling was adept at selecting the very finest players from an international palette. With every appointment the orchestra continued its upward trajectory, and the appointment of so many members of the orchestra will without doubt be his most lasting legacy. Coming together from a wide range of backgrounds, our San Diego Symphony musicians represent the best that life offers – dedication, excellence and a sincere desire to work together to create something lasting. Music exists in time. You cannot touch it. You cannot save it. As soon as a note is played it begins to disappear. It is therefore precious. Music exists for all of us, and its temporal nature means we come together to enjoy its power for the fleeting moments that it exists. After the final note it remains only in our memories until the next time the score is opened and the music begins again. I speak on behalf of so many people – musicians and audience alike – to express our profound gratitude to Jahja Ling for his devotion to his role as Music Director of the San Diego Symphony, and for creating so many magical musical moments in our lives, which we will continue to experience well into the future because of his stewardship in these 13 years. Sincerely, Martha A. Gilmer Chief Executive Officer COVER DESIGN BY: Raindrop Marketing COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Jahja Ling – David Hartig SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2016-17 SEASON MAY 2017 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1 About 500 PEOPLE from San Diego fl ew to New York to witness this event at Carnegie Hall, and it showed that the orchestra they are supporting is worthy on the world stage. Jahja Ling has transformed the San Diego Symphony. When he In 13 years, I have appointed more than 65 members of the orchestra. The joined as Artistic Director in the 2004-05 season, Ling met an good thing is that the existing members from before and the new members orchestra still recovering from the most challenging period in are working well together. It’s a really great mixture of some with vast experience and some who are new, who bring fresh ideas and spontaneity. the history of the organization. There were positions to be fi lled— dozens of them, in fact; but more importantly, there was also a But a message to remember is that it takes persistent work and it is a sense of pride and joy in music-making to be reaffi rmed. In the gradual process. It is certainly not overnight. All my mentors worked hard to maintain the quality of their orchestras: Leonard Bernstein, Christoph years since, Ling has not only rebuilt the orchestra member by von Dohnányi, Edo de Waart, Kurt Masur, Otto-Werner Mueller. They all member; he has also spearheaded a vigorous recording eff ort had one message: Always keep the musical integrity. Once we understand and taken the orchestra on its fi rst international tour. Now, San that, everyone commits to the spirit and has the same goal. Diego Symphony stands as a musical organization poised for the MG: You’ve known many orchestras in your career, but the Cleveland world stage. sound is something you always speak of. When you thought about creating The 2016-17 season is Jahja Ling’s last as Music Director of this ensemble, what were you looking for in terms of sound? the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, but he will stay on as the JL: Well, my relationship with the Cleveland Orchestra has lasted for 32 orchestra’s fi rst-ever Conductor Laureate. CEO Martha Gilmer years now and continues. Either consciously or subconsciously I am always sat down with him to refl ect on his time with the orchestra, on infl uenced by that orchestra, which I appreciate very much. Their trademark what has inspired his approach and what he hopes for the San is transparency, articulation, nuance and elegance. Diego Symphony’s future. Sound concept is built upon a long tradition. When in 1988 I conducted the Leipzig Gewandhaus under the invitation of Kurt Masur, that orchestra, even after 200-something years, still maintained the quality of sound MARTHA GILMER: In 2003 you conducted the San Diego Symphony that Mendelssohn, their fi rst music director, started. I was absolutely in and the following season you became its Music Director. At that time, you awe to see, on the wall, portraits of Felix Mendelssohn, Arthur Nikisch, said to the audience, “You haven’t seen anything yet.” How did you know Bruno Walter and Wilhelm Furtwängler—all of the music directors of the where to start in terms of building this orchestra? Gewandhaus who have carried on that tradition. What I have wanted to JAHJA LING: When I was hired, the search committee told me, “You do is to establish a tradition that allows for a blend—a way to balance the have to hire about 25 new members and mostly principal players.” Some of German and American traditions. my colleagues heard that and said, “Wow, usually people inherit a complete I feel that an orchestra should sound like whatever the composer requires in orchestra.” I had to start right away by holding auditions. It was a lot of hard his composition. If they play a Mozart work and it sounds like Mozart, that’s work, but I was very happy because it was also an opportunity to rebuild this a great orchestra. Cleveland is one of the few orchestras that does this orchestra into something more special than before. extremely well. I am happy that our orchestra has now become accustomed The important thing to know during an audition is how to choose the right to the style, tradition, sound, balance and articulation of those classical person for the job. It is not only a matter of great playing but also how the masters. When we played Mahler’s Sixth last season, which we had done musician can fi t into the ensemble. Each time I worked closely with the eight years ago, I noticed how it had developed and grown. This growth is audition committee. We all listened and worked together as a team. something I’m very grateful for and I feel very blessed to see it happening. AUG 2009 Jahja Ling and the San Diego Symphony release Never Far Away on the Telarc label, featuring works of Chinese composer Bright Sheng, with special guest, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis. FEB 2010 Lawrence Robinson gifts Copley Symphony Hall back to the San Diego Symphony four years earlier than planned, inspired by the Symphony's sustained growth and fi nancial stability. APR 22 - MAY 1, 2010 During a Beethoven Festival featuring all fi ve piano concertos conducted by Ling, last minute substitutions by Jon Kimura Parker and Orli Shaham add unexpected drama, culminating in the triumphant return of a recovered Yefi m Bronfman to fi nish the festival. OCT 2010 The San Diego Symphony's Centennial Season kicks off with an unforgettable concert with Yo-Yo Ma at the Balboa A JAHJA LING Theatre, led by Jahja Ling. JAN 2011 In a true pinnacle experience of the TIMELINE: Centennial Season, Lang Lang sells out Copley Symphony Hall three nights in a JAN 14, 2002 Joan and Irwin Jacobs announce an row with three diff erent programs, all unprecedented pledged gift of $120M conducted by Jahja Ling. It remains one to the San Diego Symphony. of the best selling weekends in the history of the Orchestra. JAN 17 & 18, 2003 Jahja Ling, Director of the Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Music Festival, OCT 2011 Jahja Ling and the Orchestra open a new conducts Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 season with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet at Copley Symphony Hall as part of a and soprano Kathleen Battle. "conductor search" season of the San OCT 2011 The San Diego Symphony and Jahja Ling Diego Symphony. Guest soloist Lynn release a world premiere recording, Behold Harrell performes the Saint-Saëns Cello the Bold Umbrellaphant, featuring pianists Concerto on the same program. Orli Shaham and Jon Kimura Parker. APR 18, 2003 The San Diego Symphony announces the OCT 29, 2013 Jahja Ling conducts the San Diego appointment of Jahja Ling as the new Symphony's debut concert at Carnegie Music Director of the Orchestra, the 12th Hall with special guest Lang Lang.