Score one for US!

2013 NYO-USA at the Proms in London

The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America debuted in summer 2013.  Consisting of young (ages 16-19) the ensemble is organized by Carnegie Hall's Weill Institute and spends a two-week residency at Purchase College, New York.  Following that the orchestra embarks on a national or international tour.

The first incarnation of the orchestra was led by the ubiquitous Valery Gergiev, him of hundreds of performances every year.  Surely this was just another feather in a cap that resembles the plumage of a peacock.  Not surprising, the inaugural program included Tchaikovsky (Violin Concerto) and the Tenth Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich.  The tour brought the ensemble to concerts in Russia, the UK and Washington, D.C.

David Robertson

THIS YEAR, the orchestra engaged an AMERICAN(!) as conductor:  David Robertson of the St. Louis Symphony.  Ever since I first saw him conduct in Chicago, I thought that he was on a trajectory for greater things.  Possibly he has been swept aside for the current youth movement in New York (Alan Gilbert, 47), Boston (Andris Nelsons, 35), and Philadelphia (Yannick Nézet-Séguin, 39).  Robertson himself is a ripe old 56!  Still, it is beyond wonderful that Robertson represents the USA in an orchestra made up of young citizens of the USA.  The last thing I want to sound is provincial, but there are so many fine American conductors that we shouldn't have to look elsewhere.

Robertson's repertoire better reflects our nation's heritage as well.  It includes a modern classic, the Symphonic Dances from Bernstein's West Side Story, and a new work, Samuel Carl Adams Radical Play, a special commission from Carnegie Hall, the orchestra's principal sponsor.  The remaining repertoire of the tour--which will visit seven U.S. cities and include performances at both Carnegie and L.A.'s Disney Hall--consists of Britten's Violin Concerto (with Gil Shaham) and Mussorgsky's Pictures.

Andrew Patner of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote of the orchestra's July 28 performance at Grant Park:

NYO-USA in Grant Park, Chicago

What the NYO has, in addition to geographic diversity and rather cool bright red pants with complementing red-striped white sneakers, is exposure, marquee leadership, memorable tutors and a big travel budget. And these are important to all lovers of classical music as a living art form. There were many peers of the players in the audience at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. And many newcomers to any orchestral program. These young artists will never forget these experiences. (This year’s roster includes 24 musicians from last season.) They got to Carnegie Hall. They’ll be ambassadors for playing, listening to and supporting great music all of their lives.

We must take pride in these fantastic musicians as they boldly represent that which is best about America and American music.

That's the upside.  Next year's conductor?  Charles Dutoit.  Yep, he's Swiss....