Eschenbach To Step Down From National Symphony Orchestra

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Christoph Eschenbach plans to step down as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in 2017 and will become conductor laureate for three years, the orchestra announced Wednesday.

Eschenbach, who will be 75 on Friday, decided he will not extend his position as music director after seven seasons. The decision came after a series of conversations with officials at the National Symphony and the Kennedy Center, said Rita Shapiro, the orchestra's executive director.

Eschenbach joined the symphony in 2009. He is credited with refocusing the symphony's approach to classical European orchestral music and for raising the symphony's profile with international tours. The orchestra has commissioned or co-commissioned 11 new works under Eschenbach, and he has hired 16 musicians.

Now the orchestra will begin assessing what the role of its next artistic director might be.

"Any time an organization undergoes a change in artistic leadership, it's a time to stop and reassess and to think about the future. ... The needs of a symphony orchestra in the 21st century continue to evolve," Shapiro said. "We need to come to a meeting of the minds about what we're looking for before we start talking about who."

The orchestra's board will form a search committee to find a new music director.

The transition is an opening for new Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter to influence the symphony's direction. She has spoken about the need for more engagement between artists and audiences. Rutter has a background in classical music organizations, most recently heading the Chicago Symphony.

As conductor laureate, Eschenbach will spend at least two weeks with the National Symphony each season.
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