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Maestro

As the Philadelphia Orchestra opens its 2008-09 season under the baton of Chief Conductor and Artistic Adviser Charles Dutoit, WHYY presents Maestro, an intimate new conversation with the orchestra's conductor laureate Wolfgang Sawallisch and WHYY's Radio Times host Marty Moss-Coane, on Thursday, September 25 at 9:00 p.m. on WHYY TV12 and DTV 12.1.


In 2003, an era came to a close when Maestro Wolfgang Sawallisch led the Philadelphia Orchestra in his last concerts as Music Director. During his decade-long tenure, he led the orchestra on numerous tours to the world's great concert houses, made numerous critically acclaimed recordings, and saw the orchestra move into a brand new concert hall, Verizon Hall in the newly built Kimmel Center in 2001. Also during his tenure, 40 new musicians were hired of whom 29 are still with the orchestra, including nearly a dozen principal players, building on the foundation and reputation for the sound quality earned by the "fabulous Philadelphians" over the decades, and orchestra recordings were nominated for Grammy awards.


Watch a clip from the show


This hour long special is woven together with historical photos and footage provided by the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as interviews with key members of the orchestra and its administration, including:


  • Roberto Diaz, Former Principal Violist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and current President of the Curtis Institute: "I always thought he could do more with his pinky and influence the orchestra than some conductors do by jumping up and down and doing somersaults on the podium."

  • David Kim, Concertmaster and Violinist, Philadelphia Orchestra: "There was just something so right about his music making. And we all felt so good whenever he stepped on that podium."

  • Joseph Kluger, former President of the Philadelphia Orchestra: "An impeccable musician who focused all of his energies not on himself but on his collaborative approach to making music."

  • David Cramer, Associate Principal Flutist, Philadelphia Orchestra: "For 10 years we had this really incredible musical experience, all the time...we were really lucky."

  • Jack Christy, former Philadelphia Orchestra Board Member: "I also can't recall how many of the musicians got me aside and said, look, I don't care who you interview but you had better hire Sawallisch."