ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 22, 1996 TAG: 9601230042
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
The field of candidates for the post of conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra has been narrowed to five finalists, each of whom will conduct the orchestra in one concert during its 1995-96 season. This feature is intended to give readers and concert-goers a personal glimpse at the man behind the baton while the orchestra and its board are evaluating his professional capabilities.
Name: Leslie Dunner
Current job: Resident conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and music director-designate of Symphony Nova Scotia.
Age: ``I can now tell that. For the last nine years I have not given my age to any reporters because I said I would not tell it until I was 40, and I had a birthday last week.''
Marital status: Not married and no children.
Some American conductors are going to outlandish lengths - like Rollerblading on stage and dressing like Batman - to interest more people in orchestras and classical music. What do you make of all this? Would you do it yourself?
``As long as it's done tastefully. I wouldn't come in as Duckman for a subscription concert, but for a...children's show, it might be more appropriate.''
What's the most outlandish thing you've done?
``During an educational concert in Detroit last year, we asked four young people to address the audience, which was students, and show their instruments...One of them was showing his trumpet and was explaining the Spanish dance rhythms in `Bolero'. While he was doing it, I whipped off my jacket to reveal a flamenco dancer's outfit underneath. I didn't tell anyone I was doing this. I had stashed a Spanish-looking fedora in the podium, and a rose. I put on the fedora, put the rose in my mouth and jumped down and did a flamenco dance on stage.''
Do you eat a hearty breakfast? Or are you the bagel-and-cream cheese or danish type?
``I never eat breakfast. One, I'm always in a hurry, and two, I don't like having food in my system that early. I take 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C a day, so I have little need of juice. I haven't had a cold in two years and I used to have one every season.''
Are you a country person or city person?
``Definitely a city person. I'm not familiar with the country terrain...I like the buzz [of the city], the congestion, the activity. I like the noise. Cities keep my mind going, they give my mind something to do.''
What do you listen to besides classical music?
``I don't. That's not entirely true. My favorite artist outside of classical music is Ella Fitzgerald. It's funny, I called my mother about three years ago and told her I discovered a new singer. She was totally disinterested. I said, `It's someone I think you've heard of. It's Ella Fitzgerald.' And she just said, `It's about time.'...I've also worked with Cab Calloway, Tony Bennett, Diahann Carroll [for pops concerts in Detroit]...Working with Cab Calloway in particular gave me a real sense of history, especially as a black entertainer.''
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Roger Hart. Leslie Dunner. color.by CNB