A belated note on Marin Alsop stepping down as Ravinia’s chief conductor. It’s not entirely unexpected. Hannah Edgar dives deeper in her piece for the Tribune.

The news isn’t a shocker. The maestro hits 70 this year and juggles commitments in the US and Europe. Could the shifting artistic leadership at the CSO be a factor in her decision? During the hunt for Ricardo Muti’s successor, Alsop was often rumored to have the inside track.

I’ve been lucky enough to catch her conduct many concerts over the years, including a standout performance of Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony with the Seattle Symphony while she was still at the Colorado Symphony. This was before the classical music world truly recognized her talent.

That concert took place during a tense era for the Seattle Symphony. After over 20 years, Gerard Schwarz was seen as stale as music director. Alsop managed to ease, if not erase, the tension and dissatisfaction that had become evident in SSO performances. I wished then that the board would pursue Alsop. She would have been a perfect match for her musical interests and the vision she later brought to Baltimore.

She was always one of the conductors I hoped would join a major US orchestra. Sadly, it never happened. But when she linked up with the CSO and Ravinia, the possibility felt more tangible than ever.