Orchestra musicians say that the group’s manager, Roberto Torres, had two recent meetings with them, and explained that the process, which was supposed to be complete by now, is still up in the air.
Torres’s explanation ran like a classic “good news and bad news” joke. The competition between American Leslie Dunner, Italian Leonardo Gasparini and Mexican Rodrigo Macias is over, he explained. But the winner, Macias, declined.
Since nobody had apparently foreseen that the winner might say no, orchestra leaders are now “searching for an alternative strategy,” according to orchestra spokeswoman Julia Gonzalez.
“The competition is closed,” Torres told Spanish-language daily Milenio, then adding rather confusingly, “The process is not closed.”
Torres informed the musicians that Dunner had not been contacted, and Gonzalez declined to say if he or Gasparini had been rejected or accepted. But now other names are being proffered as candidates. Torres said Macias declined because he wanted too much money.
Meanwhile, Guadalajara’s media is filled with speculation, criticism and contradictions voiced by various high-level actors. Milenio complained that the orchestra is like a ship on the high seas without a captain. The Consejo Estatal para la Cultura y las Artes (State Board of Culture and the Arts) gave notice – via spokesman Arturo Camacho – that it will issue a reprimand of Torres. Changing the rules and not selecting from among the original three candidates, as originally agreed, amounts to dishonesty, Camacho fumed, adding that Torres lacks the knowledge to manage the orchestra.
Orchestra musicians and employees have been involved in the selection and even voted on the conductor, said a musician with more than 15 years in the group. Dunner received the highest number of votes from musicians and orchestra employees, yet the Comite Tecnico, a group that meets behind closed doors, offered the job to Macias. (Gasparini did not receive a significant number of votes, the musician added.) The reason Dunner has not been offered the post is language, Torres told the musicians, adding that he has a stack of resumes from other interested directors.The fact the orchestra is considered among the best in Mexico and its home venue, the Teatro Degollado, an architectural and acoustic jewel, only seems to make the lack of a permanent conductor more galling to critics. Still, some musicians say the long selection process had its good side.
“All three candidates had good points,” said one, “but none of them totally convinced me. It’s better to wait and make a good, good decision.”
“Personally, I enjoyed the fresh approaches from the guest directors we’ve had during the last year,” said another musician, “but feelings are varied in the orchestra. It’s the longest stretch we have gone without a director.”
Dunner told the Reporter that he is still very interested in the position and confident he can rapidly improve his Spanish. (See Dunner’s Letter to the Editor.)
An orchestra musician pointed out that Dunner had developed the musical program for the upcoming season that begins February 24, which is not being used. (One obvious result of no permanent conductor has been disarray and tardiness in the programming during the past year, despite the fact that the orchestra pulled off a number of stunning successes, including operas and opera galas, some under Dunner’s direction.)
“Some orchestra people would like to bring Dunner back for more guest conducting because he was organized and he’s a great musician,” a musician commented, adding that the fact he is American may be a disadvantage in a country that historically bristles at U.S. interference.
Meanwhile, other names are being floated, some of whom are being asked to guest conduct during the new season. The one that has everybody talking is New-York-born Alondra de la Parra, the head-turning Mexican conductor and founder of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. She moved to Mexico City at the age of two, later going to England and New York for education. Torres, however, said De la Parra is a stopgap measure, as she would probably expect too much money to become permanent.
As the selection process lurches forward, the first season of 2012 is set to begin with the French comic opera “Le Comte Ory” (Count Ory), one of Rossini’s less famous works. With guest conductor Ivan Lopez Reynoso, Jalisco State Choir conductor Sergio Hernandez, and soloists Edgar Villalva and Anabel de la Mora, the opera opens Friday, February 24, 8:30 p.m., and shows again Sunday, February 26, 6:30 p.m. Tickets are 90 pesos through 170 pesos.
Of six possible slots in the season, the only other performance announced is the fifth, the German operetta, “El Murciélago” (Die Fledermaus/The Bat) by Johan Strauss, set for Friday, March 23, 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 25, 12:30 p.m. A conductor and singers have not yet been announced.
Both operas will be at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara’s city center, two blocks behind the main cathedral. Information: (33) 3030-9772-75, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Box office: (33) 3614-4773, open 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. daily including Sundays. www.ofj.com.mx. Ticketmaster, (33) 3818-3800, www.ticketmaster.com.mx.