by Daniel Hathaway
In addition to being a pair of ears out in the house during rehearsals, the principal duties of the assistant conductor of a symphony orchestra include taking over the podium when the music director or guest conductor is indisposed. If the orchestra runs a youth orchestra, the assistant may function as its music director (with other duties to be assigned, of course!)
Midway through his first season with The Cleveland Orchestra, Daniel Reith found himself doing both jobs in a matter of days.
On the weekend of February 5, Reith covered for the ailing Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä, who withdrew after the first of a four-concert set, leading works by Andrew Norman, Debussy, and Ravel on short notice (the podium change was announced from the stage by Musical Arts Association president André Gremillet) and without the benefit of rehearsal. Then on February 24, he led the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus in the second concert of their season, which included a Wagner overture, a Schubert mass, and a Brahms symphony. [Read more…]