Loosening the strings at the Baltimore Symphony

Saying she was ready to “fight tooth and nail” for the Baltimore Symphony musicians, Marin Alsop was introduced Wednesday as the new music director of the orchestra.

The appointment of the 48-year-old director of the Bournemouth Symphony in Britain capped off a heated battle over the selection process, with musicians complaining that the search ended prematurely and without enough of their input. But they issued a statement of cooperation Tuesday after the board announced its decision.

Alsop met briefly Wednesday with the orchestra members, laying out her artistic vision for the future.

“It was a very positive meeting,” she said. “I think the musicians are ready to accept me. Their concerns are my concerns. I am now their ambassador. I will fight tooth and nail for them.”

Referring to that meeting, Baltimore Symphony concertmaster Jonathan Carney said, “You have inspired in just a few minutes on stage a loyal and dedicated following.”

None of the seven musicians who signed the statement of concern on behalf of the orchestra appeared to be at the news conference. But Peter Langren, associate principal horn player, said Alsop is “respectful to musicians and engages audiences.” He added: “I’m convinced Marin will win over the musicians of the orchestra.”

Alsop’s appointment marks the first time a woman has been named conductor of a major American orchestra. She first conducted the Baltimore Symphony in May 2002 and appeared most recently in February.

The new conductor’s meeting with the orchestra represents a first step in the healing process, according to Henry Fogel, American Symphony Orchestra League president. “She spoke to the orchestra before she even accepted the appointment,” Fogel said from New York. “I think that’s very smart.”

He recalled how members of the Cleveland Orchestra had opposed the appointment of Lorin Maazel as music director in the early ‘70s. “Most people who were there in those days would now tell you it was a very successful tenure. That’s a worse start, I’d say, than this.

“Look, whatever is going to happen, 80 to 90% is going to be done on the podium. I think she should initiate strong communications, both with the musicians’ official committee and with the whole orchestra -- and leave her dressing room door open for any musician who wants to talk about any concerns. These are things I think she would do anyway, but I think they will be helpful.”

“One of Marin’s strengths is sheer force of personality,” said Douglas W. Adams, president of the Colorado Symphony, where Alsop’s 12-year tenure, beginning in 1993, raised the profile of the orchestra. “That’s what would give me some hope that the situation could be turned around, dramatically improved or changed substantially.”

“I surely have never seen a process as mishandled as this one, to be frank about it,” said Deborah Borda, president of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn., which has Alsop scheduled to conduct in November at Walt Disney Concert Hall. “There were clearly issues of communication between the management, the board and the musicians, and it’s unfortunate that what should be the most joyous moment in the life of any orchestra had to degenerate into this kind of mishandled situation. The only way to move forward is to put one foot ahead of the other, one concert after another, so that the orchestra gets the chance to recognize her musical values, communication values, depth of her knowledge and the potential that can be realized with the orchestra.”

Alsop said this was her “most exciting appointment in my career to date and hopefully my last.”

“I fell in love with this orchestra the first time I conducted it,” she said, adding that the Baltimore Symphony has already been approached for a European tour in 2008-09.

Bodzin reported from Baltimore and Pasles from Los Angeles.