In his first broadcast interview since announcing the dismissal of Music Director Andris Nelsons, Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) president and CEO Chad Smith continued to defend the controversial decision.
Speaking Tuesday on GBH News’ The Culture Show, Smith maintained that parting ways with the director stems from a two-year strategic plan and that he stands by it.
“The decision came down to a need for alignment,” he told host Jared Bowen, who pressed him to explain what that meant.
“We landed at a place where we felt that the organization, that the orchestra must serve Boston, must serve our communities more expansively and inclusively,” Smith said.
“We were seeing significant declines across a number of areas at the BSO, and the only way for us to move forward was to think differently about what it is that we put on our stages, whose voices get to be heard, whose stories get to be told ... how do we do that in a way which can continue to center and anchor the great canon of classical music?” he added.
The BSO’s unexpected announcement in March that it was parting ways with Nelsons generated significant pushback from longtime patrons, with petitions to reverse the decision and threats to withhold donations. Supporters have attended concerts wearing red flowers as a public show of solidarity with Nelsons.
Still, Smith, along with Barbara Hostetter, chair of the symphony’s board of trustees, have publicly reiterated their decision and statement. They express gratitude for Nelsons’ 13 years of service, but that the “BSO and Nelsons were not aligned on future vision.”
Nelsons has not publicly commented on his contract not being renewed, but in a letter to colleagues and friends wrote that he was surprised by the move and still aims to fulfill his responsibilities until his term ends at the end of the 2027 Tanglewood season.
“The music we have made together, your artistry, trust, commitment, respect and generosity, have been extraordinary and irreplaceable gifts to me,” Nelsons said.
Smith described the BSO as a beloved organization that is meaningful to the community, but acknowledged low ticket sales.
“The BSO needed to identify ways that the BSO can think about our programming and ways to attract more audiences,” Smith said.
The decision to oust Nelsons has also drawn backlash from BSO musicians.
Todd Seeber, who chairs the BSO players committee, suggested the timing of the decision has complicated efforts of BSO musicians to express their opinions in a stronger way.
“There are things we can and can’t do because we’re in negotiations. One huge question is why would they blow this up when we have to go into negotiations when we can’t talk about it? And clearly we’re trying to deal with things at the table as a result of this,” Seeber said.
Seeber agreed that a trust has been broken and said there’s no evidence that the musicians or Nelsons were included in Smith’s strategic plan.
George Whiting, founder of the group BSO Patron Action Network, said after The Culture Show interview that he was disappointed that Smith wasn’t more specific about Nelsons’ dismissal.
“Chad Smith said nothing to help clarify why Nelsons is being dismissed. The patrons and musicians are still waiting for answers after 116 days of his termination.”
Smith called alleged plans to allow more popular music to be performed at BSO concerts “completely inaccurate.” He said the BSO will continue with classical concerts, but must rebuild it back to where is was 25 years ago, when they performed close to 90 classical concerts.
He said the BSO will move forward from this difficult period, and it will find alignment and common ground, even if all parties don’t always agree.
“What makes this rupture ... makes this moment so challenging is that different parts of the organization are being pitted against one another ... when we all need to be coming together to solve the problem,” Smith said.
The multi-year process of finding a new music director will begin in the fall, Smith said.
