Maria Larionoff, the Seattle Symphony's newly named Concertmaster
Today Maria Larionoff was named Concertmaster for the Seattle Symphony. Larionoff got her start with the SSO in 1990 and since 2004 served as acting Concertmaster.
Larionoff’s selection comes after a period of turmoil with the position that began when, the previous Concertmaster, Ilka Talvi’s contract was not renewed. For two decades, Talvi lead the orchestra; he previously served under Schwarz with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Talvi’s departure set the stage for almost five years of uncertainty for arguably the most important position in the orchestra.
Last year, Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony named four concertmasters. Rather than focus responsibilities on one musician, four separate violinists would share concertmaster duties and leadership responsibilities.
The diversity in the position helped create some memorable performances, including riveting solo work from the Milwaukee based Frank Almond. Labor concerns helped dissolve the arrangement.
Larionoff’s playing has always been steady. Her seeming rapport with the other musicians should make for a good fit with an orchestra that has struggled of the last few years with bad press orchestra turmoil, to reach its fullest potential. “During the course of our search, Maria has led our Orchestra with distinction and impeccable musicianship, and she has shown superb leadership,” Gerard Schwarz said earlier today.
The appointment comes about two months before the start of the 2008-2009 season which marks the ten year anniversary of Benaroya Hall and will feature plenty of opportunities for the new concertmaster to shine, including an early season performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s evergreen Scheherazade.
…Her rapport with the other musicians should make for a good fit with an orchestra that has struggled of the last few years with bad press orchestra turmoil, to reach its fullest potential….
Zach, you gotta be kidding. Maria’s rapport with the other musicians is non existing. She is condescending, arrogant and as a result is almost universally despised by other SSO members.
SSO violinist:
This is all news to me. For many audience members, we don’t hear this much detail of the inner workings of the SSO. Personally, I was pleased as punch to hear that Maria Larionoff was named concertmaster today; I enjoy her playing, and I was reassured by the fact that I’d never before heard her associated with the staff-player drama that’s enveloped the SSO these past few years.
This apparent conflict is news to me, and I can guarantee that it’ll be news to probably 90% of the SSO fans who’ve even HEARD of Maria Larionoff. From our perspective, there was no controversy surrounding her at all – which, to me, makes her an ideal choice for concertmaster.
Am I missing something? The press release said the other three “will continue to lead the orchestra for selected performances” and “the model of using rotating Concertmasters will continue”. So what will be different other than Maria’s title? And how do we know who will be playing which solos next season (including Ein Heldenleben and Scheherazade). I agree about Frank Almond, who perhaps turned down the position?
MSO Fan,
I think the difference is all leadership responsibilities will be vested with Maria. Under the four concertmaster structure responsibilities were shared on a rotating basis. I imagine such a diffuse and decentralized structure wasn’t ideal. My guess is Almond and the others will come back as guests from time to time, but Seattle will be mostly seeing Maria.
I don’t know if Almond turned the position down. If he did, perhaps Edo de Waart’s imminent arrival in Brew City had something to do with it.