David Danzmayr enjoys taking reins of Oregon Symphony

Director positions such as Oregon Symphony's can be compared to a head coach in pro sports or a chief executive officer at a big company — the new boss needs to be his/her own person. Danzmayr, who was schooled in Austria and has conducted all over the world, knew he had to make his own path upon receiving the Oregon Symphony baton from Kalmar in June 2021.

"We're friends, of course, and we talk about this and that," Danzmayr said. "He was very careful. 'You can come in with a fresh set of eyes and make up your own mind.' That's what you want to do as a leader."

Danzmayr continues to put his stamp on the Oregon Symphony, which recently released its 2022-23 season schedule. He helped the symphony make it through the COVID-19 pandemic's restrictions, and set out to bring the symphony back to live performance and before audiences in 2021-22, its 125th season.

"Season after season, you'll see a little more of who I am," he said. "I had quite an influence on this season; there was a good amount of rescheduling. For the second season, you'll see my handwriting even more. I had some free room in making decisions."

His handwriting?

"I always believe a season needs to be balanced. You have the war horses for the orchestra to play and that audiences love; you shouldn't shy away from playing Tchaikovsky and bringing those emotions to the stage," he said. "You balance that with American music; you'll see more American composers, young composers, composers of color.

"There are hot composers, different voices and approaches. You also try to tighten it up with less names, but more work by those names."

Some of the new names come from the symphony's Creative Alliance, a coalition of thought leaders and innovators that includes artistic partner Gabriela Lena Frank, artist-in-residence Nathalie Joachim, creative chair Gabriel Kahane, artist-in-residence Simone Lamsma and principal guest conductor Jun Markl, as well as new members Andy Akiho, a Portland-based composer/musician and composer-in-residence, and Xavier Foley, an artist-in-residence.

The Creative Alliance was designed to bring unique perspectives to the stage and to the community.

"It's been very fruitful," Danzmayr said.

The 2022-23 season starts Sept. 24-26 with Danzmayr conducting soprano Renée Fleming, one of the most celebrated singers of our time, in a performance of Kevin Puts' "The Brightness of Light," which captures the passionate marriage of Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz.

Classical favorites include Carl Off's exhilarating "Carmina Burana," Feb. 25-27, 2023, and Gershwin's quintessentially "American Concerto in F," May 13-15, 2023.

The Pops Series features "Revolution: The Music of The Beatles," which includes hundreds of rare and unseen photos of the Fab 5, and the hilarious "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony," which includes beloved "Looney Tunes" projected on the big screen.

The holiday fare includes "Gospel Christmas," Dec. 10-11, 2022, and "A Very Mariachi Christmas," Dec. 20, 2022. China Forbes, lead singer of Pink Martini, celebrates a belated 50th birthday in her first solo performance with the Oregon Symphony, May 6, 2023. Other special concerts feature Chris Botti, Kristin Chenowith and Itzhak Perlman.

The Popcorn Concert Series returns with the orchestra performing scores live as films are projected on the big screen. Feature films include "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," Halloween favorite "Hocus Pocus, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and "The Goonies."

Said Danzmayr: "I can give 18 must-see highlights."

He likes the pieces the symphony will play by Kahane, Akiho and Foley, as well as classic works by Wagner, Mendelssohn and Mahler.

See http://www.orsymphony.org for the complete schedule.

Danzmayr has appeared with orchestras at some of the most prominent concert halls across Europe, North America, Australia and the United Kingdom, and in major cities across the United States, including Portland, San Diego, Houston, Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. He first guested with the Oregon Symphony in 2018 and returned as guest conductor in 2019.

Currently, Danzmayr also stands at the helm of the versatile and innovative Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra Columbus (Ohio), and he holds the title of honorary conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra (Croatia).

Danzmayr likes living in Portland. He has an apartment on the Willamette River waterfront and "I walk everywhere. It's so walkable. I'm not a big car person. I can do all my shopping right in downtown and then walk to my flat. It's fantastic."

He doesn't mind the weather. He has lived or worked in Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, as well as Glasgow, Scotland, Helsinki, Finland and Salzburg, Austria.

Adjusting to the Oregon Symphony has been easy. Again, a music director taking over such a professional group is akin to when a coach takes over a pro sports team.

"We have top-level people at the orchestra and they know what they're doing. It makes it easier," Danzmayr said. "The Oregon Symphony by design and hard work is one of the best orchestras I've worked with. It's one of best orchestras in the United States. A very good mix of quality players and enthusiasm and care. The orchestra just sounds great.

"We have a great staff and organization, and everybody is a little tired with all the extra work (during pandemic). We have the same set up, and I'm happy to have it work. It's been incredible to get our audience back, put people in the hall."

He has leaned on symphony veterans, including concertmaster/violinist Sarah Kwok.

"She's just a great human being and a respected player," he said.

"Throughout the orchestra, during breaks (members) talk with each other, maybe have dinner and talk. These connections happen quickly. The orchestra is very involved, people are open and willing to lend a hand."

And Kalmar has moved on and let Danzmayr take the reins. It's too bad the 2020-21 season had to be canceled — it was Kalmar's final season with the baton. As music director laureate, Kalmar will likely come back each season to conduct a performance.

"His farewell was basically cut out," Danzmayr said.