Robert Spano ( ; born 7 May 1961, Conneaut,

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

) is an American conductorDavidson, Justin. "CLASSICAL MUSIC: Looking for Magic: Mixing visuals and language into a performance is just part of conductor Robert Spano's pursuit of orchestral risk" (Fanfare); ''Newsday'' (Long Island, NY) – 7 October 2001, p. D21. . Retrieved 23 March 2007

Tommasini, Anthony Anthony Carl Tommasini (born April 14, 1948) is an American music critic and author who specializes in classical music. Described as "a discerning critic, whose taste, knowledge and judgment have made him a must-read", Tommasini was the chief c ...

. "Critic's Notebook: A Winning Formula for Players and Listeners"; ''The New York Times'' – 9 February 2000, p. E5. . Retrieved 23 March 2007Dyer, Richard. "Spano Tries to Hang Out at Tanglewood" (Feature); ''Boston Globe'' – 22 July 2001, p. L4. . Retrieved 23 March 2007Ruhe, Pierre. "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Spano Storms New York – and that's fine"; ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 22 May 2003, p. D1. . Retrieved 23 March 2007Tommasini, Anthony. "Classical Music: Can Brooklyn Keep Its Maestro While He's Hot?"; ''The New York Times'' – 26 October 1997, p. 2–33. . Retrieved 23 March 2007Brock, Wendell. "Live from Brooklyn, it's Robert Spano" (Feature Profile); ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 30 April 2000, p. L1. Via . Retrieved 23 March 2007 and

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

. He is currently music director of the

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Fort Worth, Texas. The orchestra is resident at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. In addition to its symphonic and pops concert series, the FWSO a ...

, music director of the

Aspen Music Festival and School The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a classical music festival held annually in Aspen, Colorado. It is noted both for its concert programming and the musical training it offers to mostly young-adult music students. Founded in 1949, the ...

, and music director laureate of the

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, USA. The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center. History Though earlier organizations bearing ...

(ASO).

Biography

Early life

Spano grew up in a musical family in Elkhart,

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

. His father, Tony Spano, was a flute-builder and instrument-repairman as well as a

clarinetist This article lists notable musicians who have played the clarinet. Classical clarinetists * Laver Bariu * Ernest Ačkun * Luís Afonso * Cristiano Alves * Michel Arrignon * Dimitri Ashkenazy * Kinan Azmeh * Alexander Bader * Carl Baerma ...

. Spano began making music early, studying piano, flute and violin. By the age of 14, he conducted a composition of his own with the local orchestra.Ward, Charles. "Busy Spano here to direct and perform" (Concert preview/Profile); ''The Houston Chronicle'' – 30 January 1998. Via Thomson Gale: Document no.=CJ64294186. Retrieved 23 March 2007 After graduating from Elkhart Central High School, he studied at the

Oberlin Conservatory The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is a private music conservatory in Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. It was founded in 1865 and is the second oldest conservatory and oldest continually operating conservatory in the United States. It is one o ...

, where he earned a degree in piano performance, while also pursuing the violin and composition and studying conducting with Robert Baustian. Slonimsky, Nicolas, rev. Laura Kuhn. (2001): ''Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians – Centennial Edition'', Vol. 5, p. 3415. New York: G. Schirmer. Robert Spano: Professor of Conducting
(Oberlin Conservatory). Via Oberlin.edu. Retrieved 24 March 2007 After Oberlin, he studied at the

Curtis Institute of Music The Curtis Institute of Music is a private conservatory in Philadelphia. It offers a performance diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in opera, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera. All students attend on full scholarship. Hi ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, where his mentors included Max Rudolf. In 1985, Spano left Curtis to take his first professional position, director of orchestral activities at

Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research facilities in the ...

. In 1989, he returned to Oberlin, now as a faculty member, leading the Opera Theater program. He has maintained at least an official affiliation with Oberlin ever since.

Early career

In 1990, Spano was named as an assistant conductor with the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 18 ...

.Oestreich, James R. "Shopping With: Robert Spano: Facing the Philharmonic, Armed With New CD's"; (Feature); ''The New York Times'' – 18 May 2003, p. 2–27. . Retrieved 23 March 2007 After leaving this post in 1993, he has been a regular guest conductor with the Boston Symphony and a teacher at the

Tanglewood Music Center The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops. The center operates as a part of the Tanglew ...

in the summertime. At Tanglewood, he headed the conductor training program from 1998 to 2002, and directed the Festival of Contemporary Music in 2003 and 2004. He has made appearances on the

Late Show with David Letterman The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production ...

.Brock, Wendell. "New era for the ASO: Appointment of magnetic, media savvy conductor Robert Spano as director praised; Donald Runnicles to share podium"; ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 9 February 2000, p. B1. . Retrieved 23 March 2007 In 1995, Spano's first music directorship was announced, with the

Brooklyn Philharmonic There have been several organisations referred to as the Brooklyn Philharmonic. The most recent one was the now-defunct Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, an American orchestra based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, in existence ...

. He began his tenure in the fall of 1996. Over the next few years, despite multiple financial crises,Kozinn, Allan. "High Notes and Red Ink"; ''The New York Times'' – 6 December 1998, p. 14-1. . Retrieved 27 March 2007 Spano, the orchestra, and executive director Joseph Horowitz developed programs organized around intellectual, dramatic, or historical themes, with occasional incorporation of visual elements. In 2002, Spano announced his intention to step down from the Brooklyn post at the end of the 2003–2004 season, remaining as an advisor, and then principal guest conductor, until 2007.Blumenthal, Ralph. "Spano Reduces His Role With Brooklyn Philharmonic"; ''The New York Times'' – 27 November 2002, p. E16. . Retrieved 23 March 2007

Atlanta

In February 2000, the

announced the appointment of Spano as its next music director, effective in 2001.Brock, Wendell. "Spano's selection wins press nationwide"; ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 10 February 2000, p. F12. . Retrieved 23 March 2007Ruhe, Pierre. "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Spano's first season gives ASO a boost"; ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 9 June 2002, p. L5. . Retrieved 23 March 2007 The ASO has reported increased ticket sales and donations during Spano's tenure.Elliott, Susan. "The Atlanta Symphony Gets a Jolt of Energy"; ''The New York Times'' – 16 December 2001, p. 2-1. Via . Retrieved 27 March 2007Ruhe, Pierre. "Ever-better ASO set to conquer New York" (Concert review); ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 23 April 2004, p. C12. Via . Retrieved 23 March 2007 Spano concluded his ASO music directorship at the close of the 2020–2021 season, and now has the title of music director laureate of the ASO. During his ASO tenure, Spano has developed working relationships with contemporary composers such as

Osvaldo Golijov Osvaldo Noé Golijov (; born December 5, 1960) is an Argentine composer of classical music and music professor, known for his vocal and orchestral work. Biography Osvaldo Golijov was born in and grew up in La Plata, Argentina, in a Jewish family ...

Jennifer Higdon Jennifer Elaine Higdon (born December 31, 1962) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. She has received many awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her Violin Concerto and three Grammy Award for Best Contemp ...

, Christopher Theofanidis, Michael Gandolfi, and

Adam Schoenberg Adam Schoenberg (born November 15, 1980) is an American composer. A member of the Atlanta School of Composers, his works have been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles in the U.S. Schoenberg was the 2010-2012 guest composer for the Aspe ...

, under the rubric of the " Atlanta School of Composers". Spano and the ASO have regularly recorded for Telarc, and more recently for

Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...

, including compositions from the "Atlanta School of Composers". Alongside conducting, Spano remains active as a pianist, performing frequently as a chamber musician. He also continues to compose his own music, though only in his time off from his performing career. Spano's work in opera has included conducting

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region o ...

in cycles of

Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

's ''

Der Ring des Nibelungen (''The Ring of the Nibelung''), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from Germanic heroic legend, namely Norse legendary sagas and the '' Nibe ...

'', in 2005 and in 2009.Ruhe, Pierre:
'There's Something Bottomless About It' – Robert Spano on Conducting Wagner's Ring
" (Interview); ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' – 15 September 2005. Via Andante.com. Retrieved 24 March 2007 He made his guest-conducting debut with the

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is opera ...

in New York on 19 October 2018, with the United States premiere of Nico Muhly's opera ''

Marnie ''Marnie'' is an English crime novel, written by Winston Graham and first published in 1961. It has been adapted as a film, a stage play and an opera. Plot ''Marnie'' is about a young woman who makes a living by embezzling her employers' funds, ...

''. including the final performance on 10 November 2018, which was part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series.

Fort Worth

In March 2019, the

(FWSO) announced the appointment of Spano as its new principal guest conductor, with immediate effect, with a contract through the 2022–2023 season, simultaneously with his debut as a guest conductor with the orchestra. In February 2021, the FWSO announced the appointment of Spano as its next music director, effective with the 2022–2023 season, with an initial contract of three years. He transitioned from principal guest conductor to music director-designate of the FWSO on 1 April 2021.

Awards and honours

Spano was recognized with the Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award in 1994.Kozinn, Allan
"MUSIC REVIEW; Better Late Than Later, a Philharmonic Debut"
''The New York Times''. 24 May 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2007 He has also received honorary degrees from Bowling Green State University and the Curtis Institute of Music, and his recordings have won several Grammy Awards ( see below). He was awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award in 2008.

Musical America ''Musical America'' is the oldest American magazine on classical music, first appearing in 1898 in print and in 1999 online, at musicalamerica.com. It is published by Performing Arts Resources, LLC, of East Windsor, New Jersey. History 1898–19 ...

named Spano as its Conductor of the Year in 2008.

Selected discography

All recordings feature Spano conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its Chorus lead by Norman Mackenzie (as appropriate). Additional featured soloists are noted. * Rimsky-Korsakov: ''

Scheherazade Scheherazade () is a major female character and the storyteller in the frame narrative of the Middle Eastern collection of tales known as the '' One Thousand and One Nights''. Name According to modern scholarship, the name ''Scheherazade'' der ...

, Op. 35; Russian Easter Overture'' Telarc CD #80568 (2001). Cecylia Arzewski, solo violin.
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 2007-03-25 *

Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

: ''

A Sea Symphony ''A Sea Symphony'' is an hour-long work for soprano, baritone, chorus and large orchestra written by Ralph Vaughan Williams between 1903 and 1909. The first and longest of his nine symphonies, it was first performed at the Leeds Festival in ...

'' (Symphony #1). Telarc CD #80588 (2002). Christine Goerke, soprano; Brett Polegato, baritone; ASO Chorus :''Awards:'' Grammy Awards for Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance, and Best Engineered Album, 2003.
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 * Theofanidis: '' Rainbow Body'';

Barber A barber is a person whose occupation is mainly to cut, dress, groom, style and shave men's and boys' hair or beards. A barber's place of work is known as a "barbershop" or a "barber's". Barbershops are also places of social interaction and publi ...

: ''Symphony No.1, Op. 9''; Copland: ''Suite from

Appalachian Spring ''Appalachian Spring'' is a musical composition by Aaron Copland that was premiered in 1944 and has achieved widespread and enduring popularity as an orchestral suite. The music, scored for a thirteen-member chamber orchestra, was created upon ...

''; Higdon: '' blue cathedral''. Telarc CD #80596 (2003).
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 * Higdon: ''City Scape; Concerto for Orchestra''. Telarc CD #80620 (2004).
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 * Berlioz: '' Requiem, Op. 5 (Grande Messe des Morts)''. Telarc CD #80627 SACD #60627 (2004). Frank Lopardo, tenor; ASO Chorus. :''Awards:'' Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance, 2005.
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 * Del Tredici: ''Paul Revere's Ride''; Theofanidis: ''The Here and Now''; Bernstein: "Lamentation" from '' Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah)''. Telarc CD #80638 (2005).

Hila Plitmann Hila Plitmann (born August 9, 1973) is an Israeli-American two-time Grammy Award-winning operatic soprano, songwriter, and actress specializing in the performance of new works. Career Education *Juilliard School of Music: Bachelor of Music ...

, soprano; Richard Clement, tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Nancy Maultsby, mezzo-soprano. :''Awards:'' ''

Gramophone Magazine ''Gramophone'' is a magazine published monthly in London, devoted to classical music, particularly to reviews of recordings. It was founded in 1923 by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie who continued to edit the magazine until 1961. It was ac ...

'' "Editor's Choice" (December 2005).
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 *

Sibelius Jean Sibelius ( ; ; born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius; 8 December 186520 September 1957) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely regarded as his country's greatest composer, and his music is often ...

: '' Kullervo, Op. 7''. Telarc CD #80665 (2006). Charlotte Hellekant, soprano;

Nathan Gunn Nathan T. Gunn (born November 26, 1970, in South Bend, Indiana) is an American operatic baritone who performs regularly around the world. He is an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he is currently a professor of voi ...

, baritone; Men of the ASO Chorus
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 * Golijov: ''

Ainadamar ''Ainadamar'' (Arabic for 'Fountain of Tears') is the first opera by Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov. The libretto was written by American playwright David Henry Hwang and translated from English into Spanish by the composer. It premiered in ...

(Fountain of Tears)'' Deutsche Grammophon CD #477 616-5 (2006).

Dawn Upshaw Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960) is an American soprano. She is the recipient of several Grammy Awards and has released a number of Edison Award-winning discs; she performs both opera and art song, and her repertoire spans Baroque to contempor ...

, soprano; Jessica Rivera, soprano; Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano; Ladies of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus :''Awards:'' Grammy Awards for Best Opera Recording, Best Classical Contemporary Composition, 2006.
Product page / Audio samples
Retrieved 25 March 2007 * Tallis: ''Why Fum'th in Fight''; Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5/''

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis ''Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis'', also known as the ''Tallis Fantasia'', is a one-movement work for string orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The theme is by the 16th-century English composer Thomas Tallis. The Fantasia was first perf ...

''/''

Serenade to Music ''Serenade to Music'' is an orchestral concert work completed in 1938 by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, written as a tribute to conductor Sir Henry Wood. It features an orchestra and 16 vocal soloists, with lyrics adapted from the dis ...

'' Telarc CD# 80676 (2007) Jessica Rivera, soprano; Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano; Thomas Studebaker, tenor; Nmon Ford, baritone; ASO Chamber Chorus * Christopher Theofanidis: Symphony No. 1; Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs''; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano; ASO Media (2011) CD 1002

References

Sources

* Davidson, Justin. "MEASURE FOR MEASURE: Exploring the mysteries of conducting". ''The New Yorker'' – 21 August 2006, pp. 60–69. (Conversations with Spano frame an essay on the nature of conducting.)

External links

Official website of Robert Spano

Kirshbaum Associates agency page on Robert Spano

Artist page
at Telarc International. Older bio; list of Telarc cd's; audio samples. Retrieved 24 March 2007

Interviews

26 October 1998
2005 Print Interview
with Pierre Ruhe of the ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution''. Spano discusses conducting

's '' Ring Cycle''. (also cited above) Accessed 24 March 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:Spano, Robert 1961 births 20th-century American conductors (music) 20th-century classical pianists 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century classical pianists American classical pianists Male classical pianists American male pianists American male conductors (music) Aspen Music Festival and School faculty Bowling Green State University faculty Curtis Institute of Music alumni Grammy Award winners Living people Music directors Musicians from Atlanta Musicians from Boston Musicians from Colorado Musicians from Indiana Oberlin Conservatory of Music alumni Oberlin College faculty People from Aspen, Colorado People from Conneaut, Ohio Musicians from Brooklyn People from Elkhart, Indiana 20th-century American pianists 21st-century American pianists Classical musicians from New York (state) Classical musicians from Massachusetts Classical musicians from Ohio 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians