Wijnbergen Officially Relieved of Duties

After last week’s surprise announcement that the Los Angeles Philharmonic had accepted the resignation, as of Sept. 7, of its managing director of 15 months, Willem Wijnbergen, Philharmonic board president Barry Sanders has confirmed that Wijnbergen has been relieved of his duties.

He will remain under contract, and will be paid, until Sept. 7.

Last week, the then-vacationing Wijnbergen disputed the use of the term “resignation,” saying he had notified the Philharmonic of his intent to terminate his contract “for good reason” in a bid to open discussion of a lengthy list of concerns. He planned to return to work Thursday “unless instructed otherwise.”

“We have asked that he be relieved of any responsibilities,” said Sanders. “We are not asking for any services from him, which is understandable under the circumstances.”

Wijnbergen’s attorney, Howard Z. Rosen, said that Wijnbergen will comply with the Philharmonic’s written request that he not return to his post, but added: “It was not a mutual decision. They have banned him from the premises. What’s he going to do--trespass?”

The Philharmonic has also assembled a search committee to find a replacement for Wijnbergen. It will be chaired by Robert I. Weingarten, chairman of the board of Whitehall Financial Group Inc. and a member of the Philharmonic board’s executive committee. It will also include Philharmonic music director Esa-Pekka Salonen, four additional board members two orchestra members, and one staff member, all yet to be named.

Philharmonic officials continue to refuse comment on the reasons for Wijnbergen’s abrupt notification of his intent to terminate. Wijnbergen has not returned calls requesting further comment.

Salonen, still in his native Finland on an extended vacation, also has not commented on Wijnbergen’s reasons for leaving. On Tuesday, he issued a statement saying: “I can assure you that my leadership of the Los Angeles Philharmonic will continue well into the next decade. I am firmly and happily committed to that. . . . As we launch another Hollywood Bowl festival and prepare for the 1999-2000 winter season, our team will continue to work together towards the long-term goals of this organization, to which we are so deeply committed.”