Mario Venzago is out as Music Director for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. A search begins immediately for a replacement.
According to a memo sent minutes ago by Simon Crookall, ISO CEO and President, to his staff: "For a number of reasons I have decided not to renew Mario Venzago’s contract as Music Director of the ISO. The Board of Directors fully supports my decision."
"We have been engaged in discussions to extend his contract for nearly a year, and it became clear that we were not going to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Mario will not be appearing during the 2009/10 season and his concerts will be conducted by other conductors."
"I have, however, invited him to return to Indianapolis for a farewell week in which we can celebrate his artistic achievements and say goodbye."
Venzago joined the ISO in 2002.
Already, at least one arts leader in the city who worked closely with the ISO expressed shock at the news.
Venzago's ISO conducting schedule for 2009/2010 was to include the season opener with F. Murray Abraham, a Mendelssohn weekend in October, a Joshua Bell appearance in November, and more.
Your thoughts.
According to a memo sent minutes ago by Simon Crookall, ISO CEO and President, to his staff: "For a number of reasons I have decided not to renew Mario Venzago’s contract as Music Director of the ISO. The Board of Directors fully supports my decision."
"We have been engaged in discussions to extend his contract for nearly a year, and it became clear that we were not going to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Mario will not be appearing during the 2009/10 season and his concerts will be conducted by other conductors."
"I have, however, invited him to return to Indianapolis for a farewell week in which we can celebrate his artistic achievements and say goodbye."
Venzago joined the ISO in 2002.
Already, at least one arts leader in the city who worked closely with the ISO expressed shock at the news.
Venzago's ISO conducting schedule for 2009/2010 was to include the season opener with F. Murray Abraham, a Mendelssohn weekend in October, a Joshua Bell appearance in November, and more.
Your thoughts.
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Foolishness is what this is---pure foolishness.
At least one of the issues has to do with the difference between an American arts organization (funded by donations and ticket sales) and a European arts organization (funded by ticket sales and tax money). In America, the conductor needs to do the glad-handing as well as the conducting.....the organization needs to develop fundraising, and having the conductor visible is part of that. It's also something Maestro Leppard was fantastic at doing. However, he also adopted Indianapolis as a hometown and became a part of the community. Maestro Venzago remains in Germany, coming to Indy ONLY when he's conducting, and doesn't do the additional duties as assigned that are off-the-podium duties. But, they're part of the job....and he also was known to make snide, rude comments about Indianapolis being a backwater (basically). It's hard to pay someone $400K for them to bad-mouth the city.
It's a shame an agreement couldn't have been reached, but in a time where many arts organizations are closing, the ISO only had a small loss this year, and their endowment, while down about 30% is still large. Management seems to know how to run a business, which is a HUGE part of the organization. Try doing it all on artistry, and you'll see problems! Maybe we can find a conductor who's willing to become part of the community.....not just take money from it.
I'm a rare breed - someone with bachelor's degrees in both business and arts administration, I understand both sides of the issue rather well, having been involved with business and the arts in Indy for many years. I'm entitled to my opinion, just as you are to yours. You've not provided anything which would cause me to reevaluate the situation. I stand by my opinion.
And, I again say, a conductor who helps in the fundraising in addition to conducting is probably a more valuable asset than one who just takes the money and shows up for concerts only. I'm not saying it wasn't a loss of an asset, but it could easily be possible to have a more valuable asset as a replacement. (don't we all sell a house to buy another one? The first one wasn't not valuable, we just valued the replacement more!)
I don't have more facts and neither do you. You are indeed entitled to your opinion. I never said otherwise. I simply suggested that you reconsider on the basis that you don't have any real facts to go on. Even the one fact that you assert, that Maestro Venzago did not help in raising money doesn't qualify as a fact unless you have evidence you would like to submit. I don't know that to be true. You don't know that to be true. And the ISO has not really asserted that that is true either. Your opinion, entitled to it as you are, is based on assumptions unproven. The fact that you are in the minority does not make you wrong, but it doesn't make you right either. The only people who know the truth of this situation aren't talking publicly.
On the other hand, it would sure be nice to have that level of skill and enthusiasm here year-round from someone who was committed not only to the orchestra, but to living in the community and making it a better place to live for all of us. I am a complete layman when it comes to how orchestra management works, but it seems to me that if management makes it a priority then the right person will leap at the job.