Showdown in Lake Placid

In today's paper, exploring the Philharmonic's upcoming season at Artpark, I get to catch up with Robert Franz. Franz, pictured at left, is the resident conductor with the BPO and he is leaving this fall to take on the job of music director with the Boise Philharmonic. The Artpark concerts are his last concerts here.

One thing Franz mentioned to me is that he is in the running for a job as music director of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, a summer orchestra in the Adirondacks. He mentioned that if he gets that job, it will be bringing him back into our area. Well, almost into our area, anyway.

I checked out the Lake Placid Sinfonietta's Web site and they give the competition for music director big play. Three finalists, the site reports, are guest conducting the orchestra this summer. They are Franz, and a conductor named Christopher Confessore, and ...

And Ron Spigelman!

Remember Ron Spigelman? That is Spigelman pictured at left. He was our resident conductor before Franz arrived. Spigelman left to take the helm of the orchestra in Springfield, Mo. Both of them had good careers here in Buffalo. Spigelman distinguished himself conducting the BPO in a youth concert in Carnegie Hall.

I do not see how Lake Placid could lose with either one.

Best of luck to both you gentlemen. Play nice!

— Mary Kunz Goldman