BSO Watch 2006

Whatever concerns Ionarts may have about Marin Alsop's impending tenure at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, we are thrilled to have an acknowledged specialist in modern symphonic repertoire coming to that podium. Today's article by Tim Smith (BSO's lineup for 2006-2007 holds hints of Alsop's vision, February 15) in the Baltimore Sun shows why:

A multimedia event with music by Philip Glass, a huge work for amplified violin and orchestra by John Adams, a concerto for tap dance by Michael Torke and the world premiere of a piece by Richard Danielpour -- not the usual lineup for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. [...] [Marin Alsop] won't be on the podium until January but will make quite a statement when she does. She'll conduct the revolutionary Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky and, with members of the Peabody Symphony Orchestra filling out the BSO ranks to create a 120-member ensemble, the sweeping Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss.

I'm not quite sure about the Strauss, but everything else will rivet me to my seat at Strathmore. I am not sure that the general audience, used to fine readings of big Romantic works in the hands of Yuri Temirkanov, will have the same reaction. Time will tell.