 Oh, how I miss you. I have wanted to write you ever since I was told that you were not coming back, but I still hardly know what to say. I remain horrified at the way you were treated and I am still heartbroken that I will not get to see you this year, or ever. It was weeks before I could stop crying over this, and tonight, I feel like crying all over again. 
I have been wanting to tell you how upset and appalled I am that you were so rudely dismissed from us. I know the orchestra feels the same. And neighbors and friends in town and around the world that I talk to are shaking their heads in disgust.
You have brought so much to the ISO, and still continue to nourishing the artistic growth of this orchestra and have taken the ISO to our highest artistic level of music making. I can't believe you are leaving us so soon and so suddenly!
Your superb musicality, creative vision and strong leadership brought the ISO to a point where it can now be considered a "major" symphony in more than name only. That the orchestra's current management cannot acknowledge this fact is a travesty.
I hope you will allow me to send my love and highest admiration for your great artistry and integrity.
You are one of the most special people on this earth. We treasure our past time together and look forward to future time together.
Everybody is depressed. Truly a monumental triumph of stupidity. And hubris!
We were, are, will be your instrument. The ISO never betrayed you...
I just wanted you to know that you will be sorely missed!
Even though I do not know the details of your dismissal there is no excuse for the way this has been carried out by management. The ISO will go on but I am fearful of its direction knowing that its finest musician will not be at the helm. I'm afraid our best years are behind us.
I was stunned and saddened...no...I was devastated to learn the terrible news yesterday. Your departure from the ISO is an enormous blow to the orchestra, the Indianapolis community...and, indeed, to music-making in this country. The whole episode seemed to transpire so quickly, I can scarcely believe it has happened...and I'm still in a state of shock.
…no one deserved to be treated as you were.
I wanted to let you know that I so loved working with you…
There is no question that you have raised the quality of this orchestra to its highest level and to my knowledge, have maintained over the last 7 years, the love and respect of the orchestra.
This is a devastating loss for the Orchestra and for the people of Indiana.
Every single musician I've talked to is devastated by this. Your orchestra LOVES you. (Which of course, does not surprise me at all. )
In my 45 years of symphony administration, I have never heard of dismissing a music director 5 weeks before the opening of the season. What a tragedy for the musicians, staff and you. How are you doing?? My heart goes out to you.
Shabby, shabby, shabby.
All of us who matter are stunned and saddened beyond belief by the most recent shortsightedness of those determined to plunder the artistic heart of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The destructive path was charted a few years ago and has peaked with this recent salvo.
Remember this:
1. You are a great conductor.
2. You have tremendous charisma both on the podium and off.
3. You have some of the most interesting interpretations of standard repertoire of anybody in the business.
4. Everybody that I know in the business has tremendous admiration for you and orchestras love to play for you.
Your impact in the state of Indiana is wide-spread, Mario—and the level of the ISO speaks LOUDLY to the impact you have had on them. In my 20 years in this state, never have I heard them sounding as full, rich, and mature as they currently do; it is a credit to your musicianship and dedication to them that they are rising in artistic level, but that they themselves realize the potential growth and level of artistry to which they can aspire AND achieve.
You are an artistic treasure, Mario—and it is my honor and privilege to know you.
It is definitely surreal. I can't believe that I won't be getting a big, warm hug from you at the beginning of the new season in a few weeks, and that the ISO is being deprived of your warmth and incredible musical knowledge... This is such a crazy world that such an injustice could come your way from this institution.
We will miss you very much, and we thank you for all the wonderful music making that you have brought to our orchestra.
Thank you so much fort he wonderful work you did with our orchestra. It was a privilege for us to have you here. I’m shocked at the actions of our management, terribly disappointed that you won’t be back, and I am sorry that I didn’t thank you more while you were here.
Thank you for seven years of fruitful and challenging music-making with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. It has never sounded better during my tenure with the orchestra than when you were on the podium. You raised us to new levels, and inspired us with your consistent thorough preparation and spirit of collaboration.
I come to you in support but also total dismay of the ISO management behavior. Your departure from Indianapolis leaves a huge void in the hearts and minds of many. Musically and as a friend I am very saddened by our loss of what you brought to our Orchestra and our city.
Some have said you did not become part of the community. I strongly disagree. You always made time for my visiting guests as well I know you provided the same considerations for many others. There may be a few that do not understand you were not hired to be a neighbor, ISO Promoter, or ISO Public Relations Representative.
Your patience and restraint is deeply admired under the circumstances. I never had any idea until reading the articles in the paper how far out of touch the ISO management was within the industry, or with any one individual as yourself..
I have been so heartbroken over this awful event! I am speechless to say the least.
The day that the news was broken to the orchestra that you wouldn’t be with us next year, I cam home from work crying so hard that my boyfriend thought that one of my parents had died.
…your passion for music-making was contagious and reminded the players of why they embraced the art initially (many had long forgotten!); your gentle, kind and caring approach to the performers showed them they should treat one other in the same way; and your insistence on absolute excellence inspired them to rise above their individual abilities...
You have so many wonderful and rare gifts as a conductor that I will miss. You are able to convince an orchestra to allow you to try something unusual and exciting with music we know by heart. You can skillfully coax the best music out of people who might need a little encouragement. You have incredible ears…
You are secure enough to admit when you have made a mistake. You make us laugh out loud in rehearsal.
You brought us to a different level of music-making-- we began listening and feeling the music together. I began to enjoy coming to work where I had previously dreaded it.
Under your leadership the orchestra has been built up to a level exceeding that at which we customarily played before, and for me personally your interpretations have expanded my musical horizons in a most exhilarating and liberating manner.
You have been such an important inspiration for me over the past years. I still can't believe that we are not going to have regular opportunities to work together. I'm going to miss you very much. I'll be very envious of the musicians in your next orchestra. I hope you're doing well.
I just want you to know that there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. You are missed greatly.
I miss you. What wonderful 'musical moments we shared'. Too many to mention.
Love,
I have you to thank for so many wonderful things that have transpired in recent years. I miss you greatly and wish we could be working together here this week. I told you once before (and it was not hyperbole!) that you are my favorite conductor...by far! With much love
I just want you to know that there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. You are missed greatly.
I hope things are going well for you.
Dear Mario, we want you to know what wonderful energy and excitement you brought to the ISO, along with marvellous programming and musicality. My words cannot express how much we (and everyone here) will miss you. Thank you for sharing your very best with Indianapolis. We wish you well as you take your extraordinary talent to others in the world.
And we want you to know how worry we are about the way things turned out in Indianapolis. Let your wonderful light shine – the world is waiting.
Dear Mario, we are so sorry that your association with the Indianapolis Symphony ended on such a bitter note. We always thought that your concerts were truly outstanding.
It was also a great pleasure and privilege to make your acquaintance, and we will miss our being together with you. Auf Wiedersehen!
Dear Mario, I am embarrassed that it has taken me so long to put words on paper to thank you for the extraordinary gifts of both your artistry and the warmth of your personality that transcends anything that I have personally experienced, or could reasonably hope to experience in the future. Even the passing of close personal family members has not affected me so deeply. I know it would take an absolute miracle of God to have the privilege of performing with you again, but I pray for it anyway! My grateful heart, |
Since the ISO announced the non-renewal of my Conductor and Music Director Agreements on July 30th of this year, I have, on the wise counsel of my advisors, refrained from making any formal statement and have not commented on the many things written in the newspapers – true or untrue regarding my departure as Conductor and Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra last July.