In Silicon Valley, The Maestros Are Momentary

“In San Jose, instead of hiring a big-name, resident conductor to build a brand — think Michael Tilson Thomas at the San Francisco Symphony — Symphony Silicon Valley employs guest conductors only. The players have a new musical boss for every program — at least seven new conductors at the podium each season. From a musician’s seat, not to mention a concertgoer’s, there is plenty of peril in the arrangement. … But in San Jose, it turns out, it’s working just fine, so far.”