Marin Alsop is truly one-of-a-kind. One of the world's leading conductors, Alsop was in 2020 appointed the principal conductor and curator of the Ravinia Festival, meaning she'll split her podium time between the Chicago area, Vienna, where she serves as the chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and in Maryland, where she serves as the first music director of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival. And if that wasn't enough, Alsop is also the music director laureate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the conductor of honor of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra in Brazil.
For the second installment of WFMT's Classical Conversations series, WFMT vice president and general manager George Preston spoke with the trailblazing conductor about what brought her to music, her relationship with Leonard Bernstein, and how she works with the next generation of musicians. When Alsop's internet abruptly dropped out (great conductors, they're just like us!), George spoke with Jeff Haydon, the new president and CEO of the Ravinia Festival, about what audiences can look forward to this year.
