The arrival of Independence Day coincides with the conclusion of Leonard Slatkin's tenure as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra. The connection should be obvious – our national musical culture has been enriched by Leonard's work, in particular his multitude of commissions and repeat performances of works by contemporary American composers.
Over the course of a dozen years with the NSO Leonard's creative programming and determined advocacy enlivened the musical scene in our nation's capitol. Anne Midgette takes a look back for the Washington Post, and Tim Smith offers a summary in the Baltimore Sun.
Note: In 2000 I participated in the inaugural edition of the much-lauded National Conducting Institute with the NSO. Leonard's website has his Washington Post article about that program; here is an inside look at the first NCI from the New York Times.