Marin Alsop noticed a significant shift at Ravinia by 2022. Entering her second summer at the festival, she initiated Breaking Barriers, a festival highlighting female conductors and challenging traditional norms. This event prompted widespread recognition when families viewed posters of 100 women conductors, many unknown to Alsop.
Alsop, approaching her 70th birthday, will leave her roles at Ravinia after six impactful years. During this period, she led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s return from the pandemic and settled performances in the upgraded Hunter Pavilion. However, Breaking Barriers, a project inviting women from traditionally male fields like science and music, remains her standout achievement. The latest edition, co-curated with composer Laura Karpman, focuses on film music.
Each year, Breaking Barriers also serves as a summit for the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, a mentoring program for female conductors. This initiative creates a lasting community, allowing past participants to stay connected even after the event.
Although Alsop will no longer serve as chief conductor at Ravinia, the Taki Alsop summit and Breaking Barriers will continue in new locations. In the coming year, fellows will attend the Prague Summer Nights program, suitable due to the European residency of many participants. Alsop herself has become more Europe-focused, holding prominent roles with orchestras in Poland, London, and Vienna.
Despite her international roles, Alsop maintains strong connections in the US. She’s on the Peabody Institute faculty in Baltimore and holds the position of music director laureate there. Moreover, she serves as principal guest conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, where she’s developing a politically themed version of Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio.’ A commitment to updating classic works characterizes her Ravinia tenure. In 2023, she creatively interwove Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with West African drumming and jazz elements.
Alsop’s adventurous programming contrasts with more conventional approaches. Her modern methods have revitalized the festival, earning praise from musicians like clarinetist John Bruce Yeh. Initiatives such as Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Mass,’ staged in 2018 and 2019, exemplified her impact, reaching wide audiences through PBS broadcasts.
Alsop nearly completed a Mahler symphony cycle at Ravinia, omitting only the Third and Seventh. Looking ahead, she plans to record the cycle as the first woman in history to do so. She describes programming Mahler outdoors as a careful balance but finds the natural setting complementary.
The landscape for female conductors has improved during Alsop’s career, but challenges persist. Recent years have seen additional women leading American orchestras, yet the fight continues. Alsop stresses the importance of unity among women to enact change across professions.
As Alsop steps down, Ravinia considers its future direction. The festival plans to shift from a single chief conductor to appointing annual artists-in-residence, who will shape the event’s offerings. This approach, inspired by the Ojai Music Festival, allows for diverse programming through various expert collaborations. Ravinia president Jeff Haydon hints at upcoming announcements of familiar names as the festival transitions.
Upcoming performances by Alsop with the CSO include a Beethoven program, Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, and collaborations with artists like Laura Karpman and pianist Emanuel Ax. Details and ticket information are available on Ravinia’s website.