An inspired choice for the Charlotte Symphony's music director

Arts critic Lawrence Toppman says Kwamé Ryan brings a lot of positives to his new role

The following article appeared in the December 15, 2023, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.

---

Larry’s take: 5 reasons to applaud the Charlotte Symphony’s choice in naming Kwamé Ryan music director

The Charlotte Symphony named conductor Kwamé Ryan as its new music director this week. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Symphony)

by Lawrence Toppman, Ledger arts critic

To me, the least interesting thing about Kwamé Ryan is the color of his skin.

It’s been mentioned in the lead of every story written about him since the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra made him its first non-white music director. That’s a coup for Ryan, who was raised mostly in Trinidad. But if it weren’t a coup for us — as I think it is, after hearing him lead two concerts this year — I wouldn’t applaud.

At 53, he’s the same age as Christopher Warren-Green when the CSO made him music director in 2009. As I said in a review of Ryan's November concert, he reminds me of Warren-Green in some ways: joyous animation on the podium, attention to details, refusal to linger where other conductors might but willingness to slow down as needed, and the ability to draw out a full range of sounds, from a hushed pianissimo to an ear-cracking forte.

He won’t have to weed out weak players, as Warren-Green did: The orchestra plays better these days than I’ve heard it in 44 years. So I’m excited about Ryan for different reasons. Here are five: