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Sam Morris
Las Vegas Philharmonic conductor David Itkin.
Published Tuesday, May 29, 2012 | 5:56 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, May 29, 2012 | 5:56 p.m.
Two shows into its long-awaited and much-anticipated residency at Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s conductor has informed orchestra officials that he plans to leave after the upcoming season.
In an e-mail sent this morning to the Phil’s Board of Directors, and copied to the LVP Orchestra Players Committee, David Itkin expressed his plans to leave the organization after the Phil’s 2012-2013 season, which begins Oct. 20 with “Masterworks I” and ends May 4 with ”Masterworks V.”
Reached today on the phone, Itkin declined to make any comment for publication on his plans and seemed irritated that his message to Phil officials has become public. A call to L.V. Philharmonic President and CEO Jeri Crawford asking how the orchestra will move forward to find a replacement for Itkin has yet to be returned.
Itkin’s decision, which is not a binding, formal letter of resignation, coincides with a crucial moment in the orchestra’s 14-year history in Las Vegas. The Phil has relocated to Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall from Artemus Ham Hall at UNLV, and tickets for its first two performances this year at the 2,050-seat Reynolds Hall were sold out. Tickets to the Phil's premiere at the Smith Center in March were so scarce, scalpers were spotted on the perimeter of the venue.
In his e-mail to officials, Itkin said artistic differences and an absence of institutional transparency weighed in his decision to leave his post, which he assumed in the fall of 2007 after the orchestra conducted a nationwide search to replace former conductor Hal Weller.
Itkin also stated to the Philharmonic board that he was looking forward to the upcoming season, which he plans to fulfill as the orchestra’s music director.
Itkin also serves as the director of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra in Texas and for 17 years ending in 2010 was the music director and conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. He has not relocated to Las Vegas and currently lives in Dallas.
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"He has not relocated to Las Vegas and currently lives in Dallas."
He has been our Las Vegas Philharmonic's conductor for five years and has not relocated to our city yet? What does this say about Maestro Itkin's commitment to our wonderful philharmonic and us, the Las Vegas people? In this economy, I am sure the LVP won't have any trouble finding a great conductor - Who would not be honored to be The Smith Center's resident conductor? :)
Mr. Itkin has a full-time teaching position in Dallas. It seems to me that he has the right to earn a living and not have his Las Vegas "patriotism" questioned, especially given the quality of music he has brought to the area.
Looks like more high falutin competition for our poor casinos.
Unfortunately, the teaching position came after signing the contract with the Philharmonic, which mandated that he move to Las Vegas and be a visible contact for the Philharmonic. Earn a living however you choose, but honor the contracts that you sign, in the order that you sign them.....
He never cared about the Las Vegas community -- the 4th of July concerts are long gone...something started & well attended during Mr. Weller's tenure.
Talk to anyone in that orchestra - he's failed miserably as an artistic leader.
David Itkin only cares about himself & his so-called artistic greatness ~ HE WON'T BE MISSED!
People are delusional and should not fault David Itkin for never having relocated and then subsequently leaving. The orchestra is at best a mediocre youth orchestra full of mostly amateur, union players who did not have to audition and can't be fired. He tried to raise the level of the orchestra to no avail, and it's no surprise he's moving on.
Itkin was a poor choice from the getgo. The Phil passed over a number of great candidates who wanted to relocate to Las Vegas. They should never has chosen someone who was not willing to make a long-term committment to the orchestra and the city.
They were warned by many about bringing on someone who had one foot out the door but for whatever reason the board was in love with him and decided to go with this turkey.
Itkin is a snob who has always pretended as though he was doing Las Vegas a favor by gracing us with his occassional presence. His programming was beyond boring and he ended up costing the Phil an enormous amount of money. Good riddance and I hope this will be a lesson to the board about common sense.
The Phil did not pass over candidates who were willing to relocate to Vegas because there were none. The board wanted somebody to relocate, and Itkin was the best they had. The other candidates weren't willing to relocate. Who would come to Vegas for five subscription concerts a year, a contentious board, and various financial difficulties?
Find a great replacement
@HeyLasVegas
Most of the members of the LVPO won an audition to become a member of the ensemble. They can be fired, and several have been. A union musician by definition is a professional musician, not an amateur.
A Union musician is NOT the same as a professional musician. Stop being hurt from a way back. Start moving forward with your life. And may be try to become a professional musician. A professional musician is the one who has the skills to play the music on a high level and is able to keep the above mentioned skills in good shape. The Union has nothing to do with that. They can not help you to get the skills leave along to keep them in good shape. It is your job. You are getting paid so start doing your job. Unfortunately way too many LVPO players will never grow up to understand that. That's why the level of the orchestra can not be improved no matter who is on the podium. Back to practicing :-)
@NotatallTrue
It is fine that you disagree with my definition of a professional musician, and I would certainly include your ideas in my own *complete* description. However, you are making several assumptions about me based on very little. You have no way of knowing if I am a musician at all. I do not know what you mean by "Stop being hurt from a way back. Start moving forward with your life." Perhaps you think you know the person who is writing this? Your emoticon does not make your assumptions any less insulting.
Why would any great conductor wanted to relocate to Vegas for only nine concerts per season? Anyway, I am a member of LVPO. David Itkin tried everything to make the orchestra sound better. And I believe he got tired of repeating himself without any progress. At this point it doesn't matter who is standing in front of the orchestra, there is way too many musicians who are not good enough for a "professional" orchestra or those who just don't practice.
As a member of the Philharmonic for 20 years or so, I have to say that I think the Philharmonic improved greatly under Itkin's baton. Every new conductor brings something fresh to the table. In Itkin's case, it was 1) the incredible clarity with which he explained what he wanted from us, both verbally and physically, and 2) his high expectations of us. As in any business, some members rose to the challenge of meeting his expectations and some didn't. For me, Itkin's leadership made performing exhilarating for the first time in decades. I had missed that feeling. And I will miss him.
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