NSO taps Eschenbach

Christoph Eschenbach, formerly music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Houston Symphony, will take on the same role with the National Symphony in Washington. He also will occupy a newly created post, music director of the Kennedy Center.

The 68-year-old German conductor and pianist will serve as the orchestra's music director-designate until Iván Fischer's term as the NSO's principal conductor expires at the end of next season. Eschenbach's initial contract runs from the 2010-11 through 2013-14 seasons, Anne Midgette reports in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504161.html?hpid=topnews

The Post's Marc Fisher liberally links to varying views of Eschenbach in Philadelphia:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/?hpid=topnews