Moving out.

The New York Philharmonic will enter a brave new era when Alan Gilbert, a young, energetic native New Yorker, takes over as the orchestra's music director this fall. Sadly, however, one of the organization's most gifted executives won't be around to take part in the coming metamorphosis. The Phil announced today that Matías Tarnopolsky (pictured left), its erudite, articulate, eminently capable vice president of artistic planning, has accepted the position of director at Cal Performances, a prestigious performing-arts presenter based at the University of California, Berkeley.

Tarnopolsky, who was included in TONY's roundup of the top behind-the-scenes movers and shakers in the New York arts community last year, will leave the Phil in July. After the jump, an official statement from the Phil.

New York Philharmonic president Zarin Mehta had the following to say of Tarnopolsky's departure in a statement e-mailed around this afternoon:

It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform you that Matías Tarnopolsky, Vice President, Artistic Planning, will be leaving the New York Philharmonic in July. Matías has been offered a wonderful and prestigious opportunity as Director of Cal Performances, the major high-quality presenting organization on the West Coast, based at the University of California at Berkeley.  Cal Performances produces over 100 performances per season, including music, dance and theater, and, in addition, has an extensive education program.

As my colleague and artistic partner, Matías has been an invaluable member of the Senior Management team of the Philharmonic since joining in January of 2006.  He and Lorin Maazel have maintained a wonderful working relationship throughout Lorin’s tenure as Music Director, and Matías was instrumental in planning the search for Lorin’s successor and the inspired choice of Alan Gilbert, commencing in September 2009.

I know that Matías deeply regrets not being able to be here to work with Alan and to enjoy in person the results of the artistic plans he has laid and relationships he has brought to us.  But I also know that he is poised and ready to assume a leadership role at a major organization like Cal Performances.  They are indeed lucky to have him and I know you will join me in wishing him, his wife Birgit, and children Sofia and Tomas, every success in their new life in Berkeley.

Meanwhile please know that I am actively working with Matías and other colleagues to ensure a smooth transition until a successor is found.

We'll miss Tarnopolsky's warm, approachable demeanor, clear-eyed competence and understated zeal for all things musical, but wish him extraordinary success in his richly deserved new venture.

[Posted this afternoon on The Volume]

Comments

[Richard G.]

Why does the NY Phil go through AA's so frequently?

[Doug]

Your piece is very encouraging for us left coasters who subscribe to Cal Performances and have often been disappointed by the outgoing artistic leadership. I keep hoping that Cal Performances will become a BAM-West of sorts.