Eschenbach to Head Phila. Orchestra

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Conductor Christoph Eschenbach has signed a contract that will make him the seventh music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Eleven months after agreeing to take over from Wolfgang Sawallisch in September 2003, Eschenbach made it official Thursday, agreeing to what amounts to a five-year contract, orchestra chairman Richard L. Smoot said.

Eschenbach, 61, made his name as a concert pianist and later had a long collaboration with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Orchestra officials declined to reveal his compensation but said it will be in line with what Sawallisch had been making, a salary plus a fee of "between $20,000 to $30,000 per concert,'' Smoot said.

According to tax records filed by the Philadelphia Orchestra with the IRS, Sawallisch received $918,000 for the tax year ending Aug. 31, 2000.

Eschenbach will conduct a minimum of 12 weeks per season at the new concert hall being built for the orchestra, the $245 million Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, plus three more weeks on tour each season. He will lead most of the orchestra's visits to Carnegie Hall, orchestra tours and concerts at its summer residences in Philadelphia and Saratoga, N.Y.

The maestro was music director in Houston from 1988-1999. He is credited with dramatically improving the quality of the orchestra.

Eschenbach conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra in 40 performances from 1989 through 1996.

Sawallisch, who will be 80 when Eschenbach takes over, will assume the title of conductor laureate and will conduct the orchestra at least six weeks each season.