Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

The Arts


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Seattle Symphony concertmaster finally goes solo

Longtime Seattle Symphony violinist Maria Larionoff has been named the orchestra's sole concertmaster.

Sunday NW Arts&Life editor

A long and sometimes discordant episode at Seattle Symphony came to a close Friday when the orchestra announced that Maria Larionoff had been named sole concertmaster.

Larionoff was one of four violinists appointed to share the leadership post in 2007 after an arduous three-year search for Ilkka Talvi's successor.

That arrangement, based on a "European model," according to a symphony statement, violated the terms of the musicians' collective bargaining agreement, which doesn't allow for part-time positions.

The concertmaster, traditionally the best-paid and highest-ranking orchestra musician, helps to lead the group in rehearsals and behind the scenes.

Larionoff joined the Symphony in 1990 and became associate concertmaster in 1997; she rose to acting concertmaster when music director Gerard Schwarz opted not to renew Talvi's contract in 2004.

When the concertmaster foursome was announced in 2007, Larionoff said she didn't want the job to herself. "I'd rather find somebody really great and inspiring, and get inspired myself. ... The concertmaster is responsible for so much. ... There's a lot of stress involved."

Larionoff was not immediately available for comment Friday. Seattle Symphony spokeswoman Rosalie Contreras indicated that since 2007, Larionoff has had a change of heart.

And now for the coda: Auditions for associate concertmaster will be held during the 2008-09 season.

Lynn Jacobson: 206-464-2714 or ljacobson@seattletimes.com.

Material from The Seattle Times archive is included in this report.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More The Arts headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Best bets for summer arts events

Obituary: Mary Henry, 96, Northwest painter

Buy one, get one free tickets at Imagine Children's Museum on the Fourth of July

Art and conversation flow from hands and heart of artist Mandy Greer

Rising N.Y. director brings her 'Othello' to Seattle

Advertising

Video

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising