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Robert Spano

January 07, 2023

Not to be confused with Róbert Ragnar Spanó.

Robert Spano (/ˈspænoʊ/ SPAN-oh; born 7 May 1961, Conneaut, Ohio) is an American conductor[1][2][3][4][5][6] and pianist. He is currently music director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra,[7] music director of the Aspen Music Festival and School,[8] and music director laureate of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO).

Biography

Early life

Spano grew up in a musical family in Elkhart, Indiana.[9] His father, Tony Spano, was a flute-builder and instrument-repairman as well as a clarinetist. Spano began making music early, studying piano, flute and violin. By the age of 14, he conducted a composition of his own with the local orchestra.[6][10]

After graduating from Elkhart Central High School, he studied at the Oberlin Conservatory, where he earned a degree in piano performance, while also pursuing the violin and composition and studying conducting with Robert Baustian.[11][12] After Oberlin, he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where his mentors included Max Rudolf.

In 1985, Spano left Curtis to take his first professional position, director of orchestral activities at Bowling Green State University.[6][12] In 1989, he returned to Oberlin, now as a faculty member, leading the Opera Theater program.[11] He has maintained at least an official affiliation with Oberlin ever since.[12]

Early career

In 1990, Spano was named as an assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.[10][13] After leaving this post in 1993, he has been a regular guest conductor with the Boston Symphony and a teacher at the Tanglewood Music Center in the summertime. At Tanglewood, he headed the conductor training program from 1998 to 2002, and directed the Festival of Contemporary Music in 2003 and 2004.[13] He has made appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman.[9]

In 1995, Spano's first music directorship was announced, with the Brooklyn Philharmonic.[5][10] He began his tenure in the fall of 1996.[5] Over the next few years, despite multiple financial crises,[3][14][15] Spano, the orchestra, and executive director Joseph Horowitz developed programs organized around intellectual, dramatic, or historical themes, with occasional incorporation of visual elements.[1][2] In 2002, Spano announced his intention to step down from the Brooklyn post at the end of the 2003–2004 season, remaining as an advisor, and then principal guest conductor, until 2007.[14]

Atlanta

In February 2000, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Spano as its next music director, effective in 2001.[2][9][16][17] The ASO has reported increased ticket sales and donations during Spano's tenure.[18][19] Spano concluded his ASO music directorship at the close of the 2020–2021 season,[20] and now has the title of music director laureate of the ASO.

During his ASO tenure, Spano has developed working relationships with contemporary composers such as Osvaldo Golijov, Jennifer Higdon, Christopher Theofanidis, Michael Gandolfi, and Adam Schoenberg, under the rubric of the "Atlanta School of Composers".[21] Spano and the ASO have regularly recorded for Telarc,[9] and more recently for Deutsche Grammophon, including compositions from the "Atlanta School of Composers".

Alongside conducting, Spano remains active as a pianist, performing frequently as a chamber musician. He also continues to compose his own music, though only in his time off from his performing career.[22] Spano's work in opera has included conducting Seattle in cycles of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, in 2005 and in 2009.[22] He made his guest-conducting debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 19 October 2018, with the United States premiere of Nico Muhly's opera Marnie.[23] including the final performance on 10 November 2018, which was part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series.

Fort Worth

In March 2019, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) announced the appointment of Spano as its new principal guest conductor, with immediate effect, with a contract through the 2022–2023 season, simultaneously with his debut as a guest conductor with the orchestra.[24] In February 2021, the FWSO announced the appointment of Spano as its next music director, effective with the 2022–2023 season, with an initial contract of three years. He transitioned from principal guest conductor to music director-designate of the FWSO on 1 April 2021.[7]

Awards and honours

Spano was recognized with the Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award in 1994.[11][25] He has also received honorary degrees from Bowling Green State University and the Curtis Institute of Music, and his recordings have won several Grammy Awards (see below). He was awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award in 2008. Musical America named Spano as its Conductor of the Year in 2008.

Selected discography

All recordings feature Spano conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its Chorus lead by Norman Mackenzie (as appropriate). Additional featured soloists are noted.

. Retrieved 2007-03-25
Awards: Grammy Awards for Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance, and Best Engineered Album, 2003.
. Retrieved 25 March 2007
. Retrieved 25 March 2007
  • Higdon: City Scape; Concerto for Orchestra. Telarc CD #80620 (2004).
. Retrieved 25 March 2007
  • Berlioz: Requiem, Op. 5 (Grande Messe des Morts). Telarc CD #80627 SACD #60627 (2004). Frank Lopardo, tenor; ASO Chorus.
Awards: Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance, 2005.
. Retrieved 25 March 2007
Awards: Gramophone Magazine "Editor's Choice" (December 2005).
. Retrieved 25 March 2007
. Retrieved 25 March 2007
Awards: Grammy Awards for Best Opera Recording, Best Classical Contemporary Composition, 2006.
Product page / Audio samples. Retrieved 25 March 2007

References

  1. ^ a b Davidson, Justin. "CLASSICAL MUSIC: Looking for Magic: Mixing visuals and language into a performance is just part of conductor Robert Spano's pursuit of orchestral risk" (Fanfare); Newsday (Long Island, NY) – 7 October 2001, p. D21. ProQuest 83361614. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  2. ^ a b c Tommasini, Anthony. "Critic's Notebook: A Winning Formula for Players and Listeners"; The New York Times – 9 February 2000, p. E5. ProQuest 49310007. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  3. ^ a b Dyer, Richard. "Spano Tries to Hang Out at Tanglewood" (Feature); Boston Globe – 22 July 2001, p. L4. ProQuest 76111773. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  4. ^ Ruhe, Pierre. "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Spano Storms New York – and that's fine"; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 22 May 2003, p. D1. ProQuest 339183721. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  5. ^ a b c Tommasini, Anthony. "Classical Music: Can Brooklyn Keep Its Maestro While He's Hot?"; The New York Times – 26 October 1997, p. 2–33. ProQuest 20219402. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  6. ^ a b c Brock, Wendell. "Live from Brooklyn, it's Robert Spano" (Feature Profile); The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 30 April 2000, p. L1. Via ProQuest 53196617. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  7. ^ a b "Robert Spano Appointed Music Director of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra" (PDF) (Press release). Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (12 March 2011). "Robert Spano Named New Aspen Music Festival Music Director". The New York Times.
  9. ^ a b c d Brock, Wendell. "New era for the ASO: Appointment of magnetic, media savvy conductor Robert Spano as director praised; Donald Runnicles to share podium"; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 9 February 2000, p. B1. ProQuest 49308409. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  10. ^ a b c Ward, Charles. "Busy Spano here to direct and perform" (Concert preview/Profile); The Houston Chronicle – 30 January 1998. Via Thomson Gale: Document no.=CJ64294186. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  11. ^ a b c Slonimsky, Nicolas, rev. Laura Kuhn. (2001): Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians – Centennial Edition, Vol. 5, p. 3415. New York: G. Schirmer. ISBN 0-02-865525-7
  12. ^ a b c Robert Spano: Professor of Conducting (Oberlin Conservatory). Via Oberlin.edu. Retrieved 24 March 2007
  13. ^ a b Oestreich, James R. "Shopping With: Robert Spano: Facing the Philharmonic, Armed With New CD's"; (Feature); The New York Times – 18 May 2003, p. 2–27. ProQuest 337831501. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  14. ^ a b Blumenthal, Ralph. "Spano Reduces His Role With Brooklyn Philharmonic"; The New York Times – 27 November 2002, p. E16. ProQuest 246400901. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  15. ^ Kozinn, Allan. "High Notes and Red Ink"; The New York Times – 6 December 1998, p. 14-1. ProQuest 36529269. Retrieved 27 March 2007
  16. ^ Brock, Wendell. "Spano's selection wins press nationwide"; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 10 February 2000, p. F12. ProQuest 49343506. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  17. ^ Ruhe, Pierre. "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Spano's first season gives ASO a boost"; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 9 June 2002, p. L5. ProQuest 123902471. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  18. ^ Elliott, Susan. "The Atlanta Symphony Gets a Jolt of Energy"; The New York Times – 16 December 2001, p. 2-1. Via ProQuest 95407128. Retrieved 27 March 2007
  19. ^ Ruhe, Pierre. "Ever-better ASO set to conquer New York" (Concert review); The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 23 April 2004, p. C12. Via ProQuest 622783431. Retrieved 23 March 2007
  20. ^ Bo Emerson (23 January 2018). "Robert Spano to leave ASO music director post in 2021". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  21. ^ The name refers to the orchestra's advocacy itself, as only Higdon comes from Atlanta, and none of the composers of the "School" are based there.
  22. ^ a b Ruhe, Pierre: "'There's Something Bottomless About It' – Robert Spano on Conducting Wagner's Ring 6 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine" (Interview); The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 15 September 2005. Via Andante.com. Retrieved 24 March 2007
  23. ^ Anthony Tommasini (21 October 2018). "Review: Marnie Stays in the Shadows in Nico Muhly's Opera". New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Robert Spano Named Principal Guest Conductor of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra" (Press release). Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  25. ^ Kozinn, Allan. "MUSIC REVIEW; Better Late Than Later, a Philharmonic Debut". The New York Times. 24 May 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2007

Sources

  • Davidson, Justin. "MEASURE FOR MEASURE: Exploring the mysteries of conducting". The New Yorker – 21 August 2006, pp. 60–69. (Conversations with Spano frame an essay on the nature of conducting.)

External links

  • Official website of Robert Spano
  • Kirshbaum Associates agency page on Robert Spano
  • at Telarc International. Older bio; list of Telarc cd's; audio samples. Retrieved 24 March 2007

Interviews

  • Interview with Robert Spano, 26 October 1998
  • with Pierre Ruhe of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Spano discusses conducting Wagner's Ring Cycle. (also cited above) Accessed 24 March 2007
Cultural offices
Preceded by Music Director, Brooklyn Philharmonic
1996–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Music Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
2001–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Music Director, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
2022–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent

January 07, 2023
robert, spano, confused, with, róbert, ragnar, spanó, span, born, 1961, conneaut, ohio, american, conductor, pianist, currently, music, director, fort, worth, symphony, orchestra, music, director, aspen, music, festival, school, music, director, laureate, atla. Not to be confused with Robert Ragnar Spano Robert Spano ˈ s p ae n oʊ SPAN oh born 7 May 1961 Conneaut Ohio is an American conductor 1 2 3 4 5 6 and pianist He is currently music director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra 7 music director of the Aspen Music Festival and School 8 and music director laureate of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ASO Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Early career 1 3 Atlanta 1 4 Fort Worth 2 Awards and honours 3 Selected discography 4 References 5 Sources 6 External links 6 1 InterviewsBiography EditEarly life Edit Spano grew up in a musical family in Elkhart Indiana 9 His father Tony Spano was a flute builder and instrument repairman as well as a clarinetist Spano began making music early studying piano flute and violin By the age of 14 he conducted a composition of his own with the local orchestra 6 10 After graduating from Elkhart Central High School he studied at the Oberlin Conservatory where he earned a degree in piano performance while also pursuing the violin and composition and studying conducting with Robert Baustian 11 12 After Oberlin he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where his mentors included Max Rudolf In 1985 Spano left Curtis to take his first professional position director of orchestral activities at Bowling Green State University 6 12 In 1989 he returned to Oberlin now as a faculty member leading the Opera Theater program 11 He has maintained at least an official affiliation with Oberlin ever since 12 Early career Edit In 1990 Spano was named as an assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra 10 13 After leaving this post in 1993 he has been a regular guest conductor with the Boston Symphony and a teacher at the Tanglewood Music Center in the summertime At Tanglewood he headed the conductor training program from 1998 to 2002 and directed the Festival of Contemporary Music in 2003 and 2004 13 He has made appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman 9 In 1995 Spano s first music directorship was announced with the Brooklyn Philharmonic 5 10 He began his tenure in the fall of 1996 5 Over the next few years despite multiple financial crises 3 14 15 Spano the orchestra and executive director Joseph Horowitz developed programs organized around intellectual dramatic or historical themes with occasional incorporation of visual elements 1 2 In 2002 Spano announced his intention to step down from the Brooklyn post at the end of the 2003 2004 season remaining as an advisor and then principal guest conductor until 2007 14 Atlanta Edit In February 2000 the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Spano as its next music director effective in 2001 2 9 16 17 The ASO has reported increased ticket sales and donations during Spano s tenure 18 19 Spano concluded his ASO music directorship at the close of the 2020 2021 season 20 and now has the title of music director laureate of the ASO During his ASO tenure Spano has developed working relationships with contemporary composers such as Osvaldo Golijov Jennifer Higdon Christopher Theofanidis Michael Gandolfi and Adam Schoenberg under the rubric of the Atlanta School of Composers 21 Spano and the ASO have regularly recorded for Telarc 9 and more recently for Deutsche Grammophon including compositions from the Atlanta School of Composers Alongside conducting Spano remains active as a pianist performing frequently as a chamber musician He also continues to compose his own music though only in his time off from his performing career 22 Spano s work in opera has included conducting Seattle in cycles of Wagner s Der Ring des Nibelungen in 2005 and in 2009 22 He made his guest conducting debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 19 October 2018 with the United States premiere of Nico Muhly s opera Marnie 23 including the final performance on 10 November 2018 which was part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series Fort Worth Edit In March 2019 the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra FWSO announced the appointment of Spano as its new principal guest conductor with immediate effect with a contract through the 2022 2023 season simultaneously with his debut as a guest conductor with the orchestra 24 In February 2021 the FWSO announced the appointment of Spano as its next music director effective with the 2022 2023 season with an initial contract of three years He transitioned from principal guest conductor to music director designate of the FWSO on 1 April 2021 7 Awards and honours EditSpano was recognized with the Seaver National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award in 1994 11 25 He has also received honorary degrees from Bowling Green State University and the Curtis Institute of Music and his recordings have won several Grammy Awards see below He was awarded the Ditson Conductor s Award in 2008 Musical America named Spano as its Conductor of the Year in 2008 Selected discography EditAll recordings feature Spano conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its Chorus lead by Norman Mackenzie as appropriate Additional featured soloists are noted Rimsky Korsakov Scheherazade Op 35 Russian Easter Overture Telarc CD 80568 2001 Cecylia Arzewski solo violin Product page Audio samples Retrieved 2007 03 25 dd Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony Symphony 1 Telarc CD 80588 2002 Christine Goerke soprano Brett Polegato baritone ASO ChorusAwards Grammy Awards for Best Classical Album Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Album 2003 Product page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Theofanidis Rainbow Body Barber Symphony No 1 Op 9 Copland Suite from Appalachian Spring Higdon blue cathedral Telarc CD 80596 2003 Product page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Higdon City Scape Concerto for Orchestra Telarc CD 80620 2004 Product page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Berlioz Requiem Op 5 Grande Messe des Morts Telarc CD 80627 SACD 60627 2004 Frank Lopardo tenor ASO Chorus Awards Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance 2005 Product page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Del Tredici Paul Revere s Ride Theofanidis The Here and Now Bernstein Lamentation from Symphony No 1 Jeremiah Telarc CD 80638 2005 Hila Plitmann soprano Richard Clement tenor Brett Polegato baritone Nancy Maultsby mezzo soprano Awards Gramophone Magazine Editor s Choice December 2005 Product page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Sibelius Kullervo Op 7 Telarc CD 80665 2006 Charlotte Hellekant soprano Nathan Gunn baritone Men of the ASO ChorusProduct page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Golijov Ainadamar Fountain of Tears Deutsche Grammophon CD 477 616 5 2006 Dawn Upshaw soprano Jessica Rivera soprano Kelley O Connor mezzo soprano Ladies of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ChorusAwards Grammy Awards for Best Opera Recording Best Classical Contemporary Composition 2006 Product page Audio samples Retrieved 25 March 2007 dd Tallis Why Fum th in Fight Vaughan Williams Symphony No 5 Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Serenade to Music Telarc CD 80676 2007 Jessica Rivera soprano Kelley O Connor mezzo soprano Thomas Studebaker tenor Nmon Ford baritone ASO Chamber Chorus Christopher Theofanidis Symphony No 1 Peter Lieberson Neruda Songs Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Kelley O Connor mezzo soprano ASO Media 2011 CD 1002References Edit a b Davidson Justin CLASSICAL MUSIC Looking for Magic Mixing visuals and language into a performance is just part of conductor Robert Spano s pursuit of orchestral risk Fanfare Newsday Long Island NY 7 October 2001 p D21 ProQuest 83361614 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b c Tommasini Anthony Critic s Notebook A Winning Formula for Players and Listeners The New York Times 9 February 2000 p E5 ProQuest 49310007 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b Dyer Richard Spano Tries to Hang Out at Tanglewood Feature Boston Globe 22 July 2001 p L4 ProQuest 76111773 Retrieved 23 March 2007 Ruhe Pierre CRITIC S NOTEBOOK Spano Storms New York and that s fine The Atlanta Journal Constitution 22 May 2003 p D1 ProQuest 339183721 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b c Tommasini Anthony Classical Music Can Brooklyn Keep Its Maestro While He s Hot The New York Times 26 October 1997 p 2 33 ProQuest 20219402 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b c Brock Wendell Live from Brooklyn it s Robert Spano Feature Profile The Atlanta Journal Constitution 30 April 2000 p L1 Via ProQuest 53196617 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b Robert Spano Appointed Music Director of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra PDF Press release Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra 9 February 2021 Retrieved 10 February 2021 Wakin Daniel J 12 March 2011 Robert Spano Named New Aspen Music Festival Music Director The New York Times a b c d Brock Wendell New era for the ASO Appointment of magnetic media savvy conductor Robert Spano as director praised Donald Runnicles to share podium The Atlanta Journal Constitution 9 February 2000 p B1 ProQuest 49308409 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b c Ward Charles Busy Spano here to direct and perform Concert preview Profile The Houston Chronicle 30 January 1998 Via Thomson Gale Document no CJ64294186 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b c Slonimsky Nicolas rev Laura Kuhn 2001 Baker s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians Centennial Edition Vol 5 p 3415 New York G Schirmer ISBN 0 02 865525 7 a b c Robert Spano Professor of Conducting Oberlin Conservatory Via Oberlin edu Retrieved 24 March 2007 a b Oestreich James R Shopping With Robert Spano Facing the Philharmonic Armed With New CD s Feature The New York Times 18 May 2003 p 2 27 ProQuest 337831501 Retrieved 23 March 2007 a b Blumenthal Ralph Spano Reduces His Role With Brooklyn Philharmonic The New York Times 27 November 2002 p E16 ProQuest 246400901 Retrieved 23 March 2007 Kozinn Allan High Notes and Red Ink The New York Times 6 December 1998 p 14 1 ProQuest 36529269 Retrieved 27 March 2007 Brock Wendell Spano s selection wins press nationwide The Atlanta Journal Constitution 10 February 2000 p F12 ProQuest 49343506 Retrieved 23 March 2007 Ruhe Pierre CRITIC S NOTEBOOK Spano s first season gives ASO a boost The Atlanta Journal Constitution 9 June 2002 p L5 ProQuest 123902471 Retrieved 23 March 2007 Elliott Susan The Atlanta Symphony Gets a Jolt of Energy The New York Times 16 December 2001 p 2 1 Via ProQuest 95407128 Retrieved 27 March 2007 Ruhe Pierre Ever better ASO set to conquer New York Concert review The Atlanta Journal Constitution 23 April 2004 p C12 Via ProQuest 622783431 Retrieved 23 March 2007 Bo Emerson 23 January 2018 Robert Spano to leave ASO music director post in 2021 Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved 10 February 2021 The name refers to the orchestra s advocacy itself as only Higdon comes from Atlanta and none of the composers of the School are based there a b Ruhe Pierre There s Something Bottomless About It Robert Spano on Conducting Wagner s Ring Archived 6 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine Interview The Atlanta Journal Constitution 15 September 2005 Via Andante com Retrieved 24 March 2007 Anthony Tommasini 21 October 2018 Review Marnie Stays in the Shadows in Nico Muhly s Opera New York Times Retrieved 10 February 2021 Robert Spano Named Principal Guest Conductor of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Press release Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra 15 March 2019 Retrieved 10 February 2021 Kozinn Allan MUSIC REVIEW Better Late Than Later a Philharmonic Debut The New York Times 24 May 2003 Retrieved 23 March 2007Sources EditDavidson Justin MEASURE FOR MEASURE Exploring the mysteries of conducting The New Yorker 21 August 2006 pp 60 69 Conversations with Spano frame an essay on the nature of conducting External links EditOfficial website of Robert Spano Kirshbaum Associates agency page on Robert Spano Artist page at Telarc International Older bio list of Telarc cd s audio samples Retrieved 24 March 2007Interviews Edit Interview with Robert Spano 26 October 1998 2005 Print Interview with Pierre Ruhe of the Atlanta Journal Constitution Spano discusses conducting Wagner s Ring Cycle also cited above Accessed 24 March 2007Cultural officesPreceded byDennis Russell Davies Music Director Brooklyn Philharmonic1996 2004 Succeeded byMichael ChristiePreceded byYoel Levi Music Director Atlanta Symphony Orchestra2001 2021 Succeeded byNathalie StutzmannPreceded byMiguel Harth Bedoya Music Director Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra2022 present Succeeded byincumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Spano amp oldid 1112481002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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