Ludovic Morlot to succeed Gerard Schwartz

The New York Times reports that Ludovic Morlot has been appointed music director of the Seattle Symphony. Morlot has visited the Seattle Symphony in the past to fine reviews. I saw him direct the SSO in Prokofiev’s Symphony no. 1 and the unusual Martinů oboe concerto and thought he was a fine conductor and he easily surpassed Maestro Schwartz in his command of the orchestra.

Morlot, at 36, will no doubt draw comparisons to Alan Gilbert and Gustavo Dudamel as one of the younger conductors appointed to direct a major symphony orchestra (if you’ll pardon my inclusion of Seattle among Los Angeles and New York). The appointment closely follows the announcement of the young Canadian Yannick Nézet-Séguin as “Music Director Designate” with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Can youth help revitalize orchestras across the United States? I hope so, as more and more orchestras pin their hopes on new, relatively unknown talents.

The Seattle Times has its take here.

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