Dudamel v. Gilbert

The new Music Director of America contest is on.  Who is better? Who is more important? Who is more inspirational? Who is finally going to save American Symphony Orchestras?

Already the news media that still talks about classical music in our country is setting this up as a contest.  And why not? Both Music Directors are young, both have ethnic backgrounds beyond the norm for Music Directors of American orchestras, both are now just getting started on the national scene, AND they are on opposite sides of the country.

How could anyone in the media ask for more?

It all faintly reminds me of Jay Leno vs. David Letterman after Johnny Carson left the Tonight Show.  Wasn’t there some awful T.V. movie about that whole affair?

Regardless, these are exciting times to have TWO dynamic leaders taking the helm in such different, but significant major American cities. Their choices about music, artistic direction, community involvement , as well as the successes and failures of those choices will in large part define how classical music and how American symphony orchestras in our country are perceived, progress, and even survive for years to come.

Who’s ready to rumble?