The New York Philharmonic will enter a brave new era when Alan Gilbert,
a young, energetic native New Yorker, takes over as the orchestra's
music director this fall. Sadly, however, one of the organization's
most gifted executives won't be around to take part in the coming
metamorphosis. The Phil announced today that Matías Tarnopolsky
(pictured left), its erudite, articulate, eminently capable vice
president of artistic planning, has accepted the position of director
at Cal Performances, a prestigious performing-arts presenter based at the University of California, Berkeley.

Tarnopolsky, who was included in TONY's roundup of the top behind-the-scenes movers and shakers in the New York arts community last year, will leave the Phil in July. After the jump, an official statement from the Phil.

New
York Philharmonic president Zarin Mehta had the following to say of
Tarnopolsky's departure in a statement e-mailed around this afternoon:

It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform you
that Matías Tarnopolsky, Vice President, Artistic Planning, will be
leaving the New York Philharmonic in July. Matías has been offered a
wonderful and prestigious opportunity as Director of Cal Performances,
the major high-quality presenting organization on the West Coast, based
at the University of California at Berkeley.  Cal Performances produces
over 100 performances per season, including music, dance and theater,
and, in addition, has an extensive education program.

As my colleague and artistic partner, Matías has been an invaluable
member of the Senior Management team of the Philharmonic since joining
in January of 2006.  He and Lorin Maazel have maintained a wonderful
working relationship throughout Lorin’s tenure as Music Director, and
Matías was instrumental in planning the search for Lorin’s successor
and the inspired choice of Alan Gilbert, commencing in September 2009.

I know that Matías deeply regrets not being able to be here to work
with Alan and to enjoy in person the results of the artistic plans he
has laid and relationships he has brought to us.  But I also know that
he is poised and ready to assume a leadership role at a major
organization like Cal Performances.  They are indeed lucky to have him
and I know you will join me in wishing him, his wife Birgit, and
children Sofia and Tomas, every success in their new life in Berkeley.

Meanwhile please know that I am actively working with Matías and
other colleagues to ensure a smooth transition until a successor is
found.

We'll miss Tarnopolsky's warm, approachable demeanor, clear-eyed
competence and understated zeal for all things musical, but wish him
extraordinary success in his richly deserved new venture.

[Posted this afternoon on The Volume]