Filed under: Commentary | Tags: Adam Flatt, Denver Phil, Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, DPO, Horst Buchholz, Russell Klein
There is some really good news which many of you may know by now, and that is that the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen Adam Flatt to be it’s new conductor. He will replace Dr. Horst Buchholz, who is still sorely missed throughout this entire community for many reasons. It is my sincere opinion that the DPO made a very wise choice and it has taken them two years to come to this decision. I will quote from an e-mail that I received from the Denver Philharmonic:
“We are delighted that our search effort has concluded with the announcement of Adam Flatt as our next music director and conductor,” says executive director Russell Klein. “Adam stood out as having the proven leadership experience, depth of musicality, and affable stage presence we were seeking. He has a strong track record of building new audiences and combining music with community service through outreach. We welcome Adam as a dynamic new leader who will play an important role in ensuring the Denver Phil continues providing metro Denver with high quality performances at affordable prices.”
The above is very true. I can scarcely imagine that no one in the Denver metro area is unaware of Adam Flatt. I will quote from his website:
“Adam Flatt is Music Director of the Newport Symphony, the only year-round professional orchestra on the Oregon coast. Adam also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Ballet in Denver, and is principal conductor of Emerald City Opera, a summer festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He appears as a guest with ensembles all over the United States.
“When Marin Alsop invited Mr. Flatt to join the Colorado Symphony as Associate Conductor in 2001 he began a five-year tenure during which he conducted over 250 performances with the orchestra. His warm presence on the podium connected with the entire range of audiences, from those for classical subscription and pops, to family, outreach, and special gala events such as the annual New Year’s Eve celebration. He created and hosted family and educational concerts that reached tens of thousands of children and families in the region. Adam was the first conductor for [the] television broadcast of “Spirit of the Season,” an Emmy-winning holiday concert of the Colorado Symphony and choruses broadcast on Colorado’s CBS-4.
“In 2001 he also began his seven year tenure as Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, during which the DYAO organization celebrated its 25th and 30th anniversaries. He led the DYAO in acclaimed concerts at home in Denver and on tours to central Europe and South America. Under his leadership, the DYAO was widely recognized as one of the most exciting and best-trained youth orchestras in the United States. Mr. Flatt made his professional debut with the Oregon Symphony, where he served as apprentice conductor for two years. He has guest conducted the orchestras of Alabama, Cheyenne, Dallas, Delaware, Houston, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, Missoula, Monterey, Oregon, Sacramento, Saint Louis, San Juan, Santa Rosa, South Carolina, and many others. Festival appearances include the Bravo! Vail Valley, Strings in the Mountains, Cascade, Colorado, Marrowstone, and Green Music Festivals. Adam’s performances have been broadcast on NPR’s ‘Performance Today,’ and on Colorado Public Radio’s ‘Colorado Spotlight.’
“He has led performances with the major ballet companies of Portland and Salt Lake City as well as that of Denver.
“Also devoted to the operatic repertoire, Mr. Flatt returns each summer to conduct a production for Emerald City Opera, a festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In addition, he has led productions for Colorado Light Opera, Eugene Opera, and Colorado Symphony collaborations with Central City Opera and Opera Colorado, including the popular “Opera on the Rocks” at Red Rocks.
“Adam Flatt has his bachelor’s degree with honors in music from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s degree in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. He studied music for two years in Austria and Germany, and studied at the Aspen Music Festival.”
I sincerely hope that all of you readers will read carefully the above bio statement. Savor it. It will give you an idea of the things that are to come for the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and its audiences and performances. As I have stated before, there is an old saying which has never made very much sense to me and it is, “The further an individual comes from, the greater the expert he is.” I am so glad that the Denver Phil chose to ignore this senseless rule. Flatt has done wonders with the Colorado Ballet Orchestra and the DYAO. He was terrific with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
Again, I will quote from the letter that I received from the Denver Philharmonic: “The Denver Philharmonic is one of our region’s cultural treasures,” says Maestro Flatt. “And I am delighted to be a part of it.” Mr. Flatt first led the Denver Philharmonic as guest Conductor in May 2009. “I was impressed by how truly the DPO lives up to its reputation as the best community orchestra in Colorado. The music making is vibrant and joyful, he says. ”
All of you concertgoers who truly love music must now give a warm and long welcome to Adam Flatt. He is one of the very few people that I can think of that will successfully succeed Dr. Horst Buchholz who is one of the most profound musicians Denver has seen. Adam Flatt is certainly of the same ilk.
1 Comment so far
Leave a comment
It certainly is a bittersweet situation. As exciting as it is to welcome Flatt to the symphony, Buchholz will be greatly missed. There are some great performances on the agenda for Denver’s classical music scene this season and with everything there is to look forward to, that’s the perspective I’m taking.
Comment by Wilma Certan July 28, 2010 @ 10:38 pm