How to find out if a music director is leaving town?

After much in-depth analysis and hard work, I developed a simple approach
to this complex dilemma:  ask him.

There have been rumors about Michael Tilson Thomas leaving the San
Francisco Symphony from the time he took over seven years ago.  In recent
days, reports circulated about the possibility of his going to the NY
Philharmonic in a year or two.

Sticking with the home team is a hot issue in the Bay Area, what with Jon
Gruden leaving the Oakland Raiders, but Steve Mariucci staying with the
Forty-Niners even in face of millions of dollars and many incentives from
the same Tampa Bay team that ended up with Gruden.

The question to MTT at today's press conference:  have the Raiders (who now
need a head coach) *or any other organization* offered him a job to leave
SFS? The answer:  "I am not aware of anything, but I have heard a rumor
that there is a group of very penitent arts-loving former Enron executives
who are trying to create an international fund to accomplish something or
other.  That's the only rumor I heard."

I pressed on:  would you make a Mariucci statement? For a moment, MTT
appeared uncertain and he asked:  "What did he say?" A helpful SFS staff
member nearby whispered:  "He said he'd stay."

"Oh," MTT said, "with pleasure.  I am planning to stay here.  Rather than
going anywhere else, I'd just like to steal more people to come here - more
audience, more soloists, more excellent guest conductors."

So there.

Janos Gereben/SF
[log in to unmask]