What could possibly go wrong for Gary Ginstling.
He’d worked with orchestras all his life and was ready for the ultimate challenge – running the uber-rich and self-regarding New York Philharmonic as it transitioned from an unwanted conductor to the superstar Gustavo Dudamel.
The orchestra’s outgoing president Deborah Borda had secured Dude’s autograph on the legal documents before she left and the conductor showed willingness to help put even before his start date.
But the Dude and Gary show never got on the road.
The chemistry stank and the lines of authority blurred. Ginstling found Dude was not taking all his calls. Dude kept talking to Borda, as he had done for half his life.
Fundraising all but stopped when Borda left. The the players cleared their throats, preparatory to a tough wage round. Ginstling eyeballed them, and blinked first.
A sordid case of historic rape led to two musicians being suspended and the atmosphere going sour.
Why Ginstlling chose today to quit is not clear (the NY Times hasn’t a clue), but our sources have been saying all year that he won’t see Dude in as music director, and that eventuality has no comes to pass.
The big question is, will Dude stay? Or will he join ex-LA Phil pal Chad Smith in Boston?
Watch this space.
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