By Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg
Since I appreciate Classical Music, I have been following the progress of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Last year, their long time conductor, Alan Gilbert, announced his resignation. A new conductor, Jaap van Zweden, has just been announced. Van Zweden has already successfully conducted the New York Philharmonic as a guest conductor. He also rebuilt the Dallas Symphony. He comes aboard in New York during what will be a tumultuous period. The Philharmonic's home, David Geffen Hall, is undergoing a major renovation, so that the symphony will be out of its home for two years. In addition, the funds are not yet totally in place, and the conductor will be expected to raise the outstanding monies needed for completion.
Mr. van Zweden has not even begun in his new position, but he has already been the subject of a negative review by the chief classical music critic, Anthony Tommasini, in his New York Times column, Critic's Notebook. Tommasini charges that van Zweden will not emphasize the contemporary music that Gilbert, his predecessor, championed. He claims further that van Zweden will play it safe as a mere technician, instead of bringing an innovative agenda to the orchestra. My contention is that this prominent negative attitude will make an already difficult situation harder.
Tommasini liked Gilbert's agenda of innovation and is already upset that Gilbert's agenda might not be continuing. Similarly, stakeholders in Jewish institutions can be too attached to the departing leader, trying to hold onto the past instead of being open to the new realities and a new leader.
Given what the orchestra is currently facing, which is 2 years of being out of their home and a third of settling back in, in addition to extra financial pressures, and the stress adopting to a new conductor, it seems that the next few years will be chaotic. A wise choice for conductor might be one whose strength is stability and continuity. Similarly, in the Jewish world, the buzz phrase is "innovation and change." We often forget the importance of continuity and stability for the health of our organizations. The ideal leader balances both.
Tommasini is also critical of the process calling the Search Committee's selection "playing it safe." It is typical in Jewish Institutions that stakeholders who are unhappy with an outcome might attack the process as being unfair or wrongly managed. All leadership transitions are moments of anxiety. Once a decision has been made, it is prudent for the community to create a positive atmosphere to maximize the possibility that the successor would be successful. The search committee should be appreciated for managing a difficult task with intelligence and care.
I wish the New York Philharmonic Orchestra well. I will follow its progress in the news. Stakeholders of Jewish Institutions whose candidates are not selected would do well to understand that their early loud public criticisms may in fact endanger the institution that they support. On the other hand, their positive voice might ensure a smoother, more successful transition.