Marin Alsop, the New York-born conductor known for dynamic interpretations of American music and for steadily breaking through the glass ceiling in a male-dominated field, is expected to be named music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, according to sources.
Though the public relations firm representing Alsop stated that a contract has yet to be signed, "everyone knows that the decision has been made," said one symphony insider familiar with the search process, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It's a done deal," said another BSO employee.
Alsop, 48, who led the Colorado Symphony for a dozen years and now serves as music director of the Bournemouth Symphony in England, would succeed Yuri Temirkanov, who announced in September that he will step down at the end of the 2005-2006 season, his seventh with the orchestra.
A major component
The pending appointment comes at a time when the BSO is facing an accumulated deficit of about $10 million. A new music director is viewed as a major component in addressing the orchestra's long-term financial, as well as artistic, health.
A 21-member search committee, made up of management, board members and musicians, is expected to recommend Tuesday that the BSO board of directors ratify Alsop's appointment.
"I can't confirm or deny it until it goes to the board," Laura Johnson, the BSO's vice president of public relations and community affairs, said last night. The head of the orchestra's players committee also declined to comment.
"There is no signed contract," said Jessica Lustig, managing director of the 21C Media Group, the public relations firm that represents Alsop, who was on a cruise and could not be reached for comment.
`Volatile' opinions
For the past few months, there have been indications that Alsop, long considered the leading candidate to succeed Temirkanov, might be not be the top choice of a majority of the orchestra's musicians. In May, BSO President James Glicker acknowledged that opinions in the orchestra about potential candidates were "volatile."
Stephen W. Fisher, one of the BSO's governing members and a patron of the orchestra for 40 years, said yesterday: "I have heard from a number of musicians who believe that their opinions were not fully considered in this matter and that the search should be continued."
