Director to leave Cleveland Orchestra

CLEVELAND - Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Christoph von Dohnanyi will be remembered as much for what he refused to do as for what he accomplished in nearly two decades on a job that he will leave at the end of this season.

The German-born Dohnanyi, 72, took the helm of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1984 after two years as music director designate. When the current season ends next summer, he will leave to begin conducting other orchestras worldwide that he could not lead while he was tied to Cleveland.

Dohnanyi said he does not view his departure as retirement.

"We have planned way up to the next year," he said. "Sometimes I have the feeling we are sort of a little bit caught in this treadmill."

Supporters say Dohnanyi's greatest legacy may be his commitment to expanding the musical repertoire of the orchestra and its audience, instead of retreating to old favorites.

The Cleveland Orchestra has performed 22 pieces under Dohnanyi that no other orchestra had ever presented. Another handful of the pieces received their U.S. premiere under Dohnanyi's baton. These contemporary pieces are often far from the Beethoven and Mozart the public generally expects from a symphony.

Dohnanyi said he has been impressed with the willingness of the Cleveland audience to support the orchestra's high-mindedness.

"The public did understand that you cannot live only in the past, you have to involve the past in the future," he said. "It is absolutely unbelievable what they did, for the size of the city to really care so much."

Dohnanyi will hand over a group with a shining reputation to Franz Welser-Moest, 41, who takes over in 2002-03. One of the final concerts Dohnanyi will conduct includes a new work by Matthias Pintscher, commissioned for the Cleveland Orchestra.