“Eckart Preu’s execution of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4 at our June 4 finale not only elevated the overall concert experience for our audience that night, but also excited our orchestra players,” said Symphony Board President Irv Miller. “Maestro Preu’s genuine spirit of collaboration, partnership and adventure makes us confident that we have identified a music director who can take our symphony to the next phase of its development.”
Preu says he decided to accept the position with Long Beach Symphony “because of its pure excellence— an excellence that extends not only to the amazing quality of its musicians, but also to the excellence in how its staff and volunteers run the organization.”
Preu will serve as Long Beach Symphony’s music director designate during the 2016-2017 season, returning to Long Beach to conduct the Symphony Concerts for Young People on Feb. 1 and 2 for over 12,000 Long Beach Unified School District 4th and 5th graders.
Within that same week, he will conduct Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique and Saint-Saens’ Danse macabre as well as Dukas’ classic, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, at the Feb. 4 classical concert at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Terrace Theater. Tickets will be released for sale on Sept. 10.
Preu will continue to serve as music director of the Spokane Symphony but will step down from his current position with the Stamford Symphony next year.
Commencing in the 2017-2018 season, he will take on his full-time position in Long Beach and will program and conduct all six classical series concerts, all youth concerts and one POPS! concert annually.
“In Eckart Preu,” said Long Beach Symphony Executive Director Kelly Ruggirello, “I have found a partner who shares a vision for a future that will deepen our programming, provide greater access to more residents, and further our artistic excellence.”
Source: LB Symphony
