The Philharmonic’s Director

It has been more than a year now since the regrettable yet classic transition “wildfire” at the Los Angeles Philharmonic consumed most of those few directly involved, including me, before anyone had a chance to step back.

After fully resolving this difficult matter, and while trying to rebuild family life against all odds in this fascinating area, we learned to absorb and quietly accept untruthful and malicious speculation and insinuation as to my departure as managing director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. in the music industry, the media, and even in private life.

Your article with Deborah Borda, my successor at the Philharmonic, easily establishes a new, rather sad record as an uncalled-for and unnecessary attempt to humiliate (“Make No Mistake: She’s in Charge,” by Diane Haithman, Jan. 7).

Where we, Angelenos, might have expected to learn something new and interesting through the article about Ms. Borda’s insights regarding the known challenge of rebuilding and reconnecting this important and valuable organization with diverse audiences and sprawling communities in Southern California, instead we are being served with a grotesque effort of self-aggrandizing primarily at the expense of a predecessor who is known to be bound to silence through legal agreement.

Any visionary leader with dignity, self-respect and style would have avoided these low grounds at all cost. How very un-artistic, how very inappropriate, and how very un-”L.A.”

WILLEM WIJNBERGEN

Glendale

*

I have a somewhat more jaundiced view of the prospects for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Deborah Borda. I was the lead sales rep for subscriptions with two of its outside agencies the past two seasons, and my impression is that the orchestra and its subcontractors epitomize the Peter Principle of incompetent management.

From unrealistic calling scripts to illogical work schedules, neither the Philharmonic nor its marketing firms showed any awareness of how to seriously rebuild the base of support after a decade of decline (the 13% increase in sales could have been achieved by well-trained monkeys under the circumstances).

It seems to me that Ms. Borda is only rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic anyway. The new Disney Hall will have one-third fewer seats compared with the Chandler Pavilion. Do the math on the future number of subscribers and donors.

SCOTT S. SMITH

West Hollywood

*

Would you please ask Deborah to not lean on our Disney Hall model. Thank you.

RANDALL BRUCE

Docent, Music Center of L.A. County