The Philharmonic Isn’t the Only Game in Town

Music lovers in Southern California and probably throughout most of the civilized world should be thrilled at the news that Esa-Pekka Salonen will guide the fortunes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the years to come. There are few young conductors with maestro Salonen’s already impressive credentials.

While few conductors and few ensembles can match this pairing, that should not lead to the conclusion that there are no others to speak of. Another brilliant young conductor--Christof Perick--has also recently agreed to become music director of a comparably accomplished Los Angeles orchestra, although smaller and less well known: the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

It is necessary, unfortunately, to bring both of these extraordinary pairings to the attention of the Los Angeles Times readership because of the comment attributed to Salonen in John Henken’s interview with him (Calendar, April 30): “Programming, for one thing, is fairly independent here, partly because this is the only show in town, so we don’t have to take other plans into account.” In addition to the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, how can one ignore the prestigious national and international ensembles hosted in Southern California by organizations such as UCLA, Ambassador Auditorium and the Orange County Philharmonic Society? Salonen also might enjoy hearing some superb performances by other orchestras in town, notably the Pasadena, Pacific and Long Beach symphonies. We should all be pleased that the residents of Southern California recognize the importance of classical music in our community and support these organizations, not just one.

Few cities are as blessed with the wealth of talented musicians as Los Angeles. One might have wished that Esa-Pekka Salonen had chosen not to refer to the Philharmonic as “the only show in town.” Instead, he might have seen it for what it is--a major part of a rich musical scene.