Flutist Mathieu Dufour apologizes to L.A. Phil, slams Chicago Sun-Times article [Updated]

The controversy surrounding the sudden departure of principal flutist Mathieu Dufour from the Los Angeles Philharmonic took another twist today with an e-mail that the musician has sent to members of the orchestra in which he criticizes an article that appeared this week in the Chicago Sun-Times.

In the e-mail, Dufour apologizes for his abrupt departure from L.A., citing "personal circumstances" and the need to have shoulder surgery in February. The flutist writes that he "felt it best to have the surgery in Chicago, and remain there during my recovery."

As was previously reported, Dufour has resumed his post as principal flutist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He had joined the L.A. Phil in September on a one-year trial basis during which time he was allowed to hold positions with both orchestras.

Dufour's departure from L.A. comes only a few months into his contract with the orchestra.

Later in the e-mail, Dufour criticizes an article that appeared this week in the Chicago Sun-Times, in which the musician was quoted as saying that musicians in L.A. "have no tradition there -- no tradition of sound and no tradition of working together as a dedicated ensemble. Maybe they will have that someday in the future.”

In his e-mail, the musician claims that he was misquoted and attacks the article, saying: "I sincerely hope that none of you have read it, but if any of you have seen it, I beg you not to pay any attention to it." 

He continues: "The Chicago reporters seem to like slanting every article to favor Chicago’s orchestra, even if it makes everyone else look bad. I never said or thought any negative things about the LA Phil, in fact I feel quite the opposite."

Andrew Patner, who wrote the article for the Sun-Times, told Culture Monster Thursday that he stands by his reporting. Patner also serves as a critic for radio station WFMT-FM.

Culture Monster tried to reach Dufour for comment through the CSO but was told that he was not available.

Here is Dufour's e-mail, reprinted in its entirety:

Dear musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic,

    I would like to express my deepest apologies for having left the season so abruptly. I am sorry that I was not able to say goodbye in person to all of you.  Due to personal circumstances, I felt it very necessary to return to Chicago in January. As some of you may have heard, I need to have shoulder surgery this February, and felt it best to have the surgery in Chicago, and remain there during my recovery.
    I would like to address a recent article published by a newspaper critic in Chicago, in which I was grossly misquoted.  I sincerely hope that none of you have read it, but if any of you have seen it, I beg you not to pay any attention to it. The Chicago reporters seem to like slanting every article to favor Chicago’s orchestra, even if it makes everyone else look bad. I never said or thought any negative things about the LA Phil, in fact I feel quite the opposite.
    The decision to leave LA was extremely difficult for me, as I had a truly memorable and enjoyable time playing with all of you.  For me, the concerts we played together were a thrill and I was excited to be on board the new journey that the orchestra is taking with Gustavo Dudamel. For my colleagues in the wind section, I felt that we had a wonderful rapport with each other and were forming a tremendous bond that was very difficult for me to leave.
    My fiancé and I have very personal reasons for our decision to go back to Chicago. My decision to leave your orchestra does not diminish in any way my warm memories of the time we spent together, nor my feelings about the kind of musicians you all are. It is my deepest hope that you will please not pay attention to any kind of media that may be written about this, as the papers seem to distort everything I’ve ever said, and this has been extremely upsetting to me.
    I have nothing but the utmost respect for your orchestra, for all of you as colleagues, and for the great things that you will surely do in the years ahead. I will always look back on my time in LA with nostalgia, and wish you all the very best success and great times to come.

Very sincerely,
Mathieu

-- David Ng

[Updated: A previous version of this article stated that the radio station WFMT-FM is regarded as the voice of the CSO. A spokeswoman for the radio station said that "we used to produce concerts for them but don't anymore."]

Photo: Mathieu Dufour. Credit: Los Angeles Philharmonic

Comments

[Hank Browne]

Wow!! This is turned into a cause celebre. Even the fiancee got into the act. As a Chicagoan I must admit to necessary bias--although I think the Barenboim era was a disaster for what was then the #1 orchestra in the world. The flow from Reiner to Solti and Giulini with Boulez always around was magnificent
One thing I must say is that Andrew Patner is probably the least of a homer of all critics in Chicago.
I tend to doubt that Patner made up that quote. It was shocking to read that disparaging quote. But Dufour has been a young international star who has been around and, unlike most Americans, must have deep command of the languages of the arts.
Nevertheless I think something must have been lost in translation. His English seems impecable but has traces of evidence that it is not his primary language. Indeed Mr Dufour seems almost schizophrenic about his aspirations. As far as I know Patner never raised the issue of a bonus paid Dufour by LAPO, yet Patner seemed to have been charged with that part of the flap as well.
Why did Dufour go to LAPO in the first place? The fiancee? What, there are no orthopedic surgeons in LA? It is all very strange. But one thing is clear, Patner seems to be the scapegoat. It is unfortunate when a brilliant performer gets embroiled in controversy (Tiger Woods).
Maybe President Obama can get them all to the White House.

[Marco Budgyk]

We all knew this was coming. Even though Patner did his best to destroy Dufour's reputation as a musical colleague with one stroke of his poison pen, Dufour may yet survive. But the "I am sorry that I was not able to say goodbye in person to all of you" doesn't help his case. Weak, very weak.

Personally, I would not want to be sitting next to Dufour anytime soon with the CSO; I'd be looking for a knife in my back, maybe from Patner, maybe from a flute player.

[sallie]

It's all too bad, because Dufour is self-admittedly being scarred psychologically and emotionally by this PR fiasco. And the sad part is that the scarring will unavoidably affect his playing.

Good work, Mr. Patner.

[Andrew Patner]

Mathieu Dufour is one of the world's great flutists and a great professional musician. Nothing that a newspaper writer or anyone else does or says over the years, good or bad, has effected or will effect his extraordinary playing. Whether Mr. Dufour plays in Chicago or Los Angles, Paris or Tokyo, his playing is a gift to his listeners. His performance last night at Chicago's Orchestra Hall -- and the ovations that he received from the audience and his colleagues -- of the incredibly challenging 2006 Flute Concerto of Marc-André Dalbavie with Pierre Boulez conducting the CSO was a clear reminder of that as it was that the making of great music making will always matter more than what any of us has to scribble about it, here or elsewhere.

Andrew Patner -- Chicago Sun-Times/WFMT Radio Chicago and wfmt.com

[markiejoe]

And you'll all note that -- surprise, surprise! -- Mr. Patner saw fit to pen another self-aggrandizing post two days ago on last year's old Dufour Times article blog after almost four months of no activity there.

Face it, Patner is just a sad relic of the pompous 19th century provincial us-vs.-them classical music criticism mentality that doesn't care a whit about whose reputation might be destroyed.

Chicago, are you listening?

[Jonathan Figueroa]

Seems to me that some people are just jealous about Dufour decision. How inmature would you be to say:

"I would not want to be sitting next to Dufour anytime soon with the CSO; I'd be looking for a knife in my back, maybe from Patner, maybe from a flute player." ????

First of all... I bet there is no flutist that hates Mathieu. If you are a flutist... I bet you are a bad one. If you are just a frustrated musician.. that explains your comment. Let M. Dufour be happy!!! Despite there are many good american flutists...(after all) there is no American flutist that could stand side by side on Mathieu's playing level.

Appreciate other people talents!! Enjoy the music... don't be a hater!!!!

JF

[common folk]

How immature does a music critic have to be to spend his time posting over and over on another newspaper's blogs? Noms de plume included. We've entered methinks he doth protest too much territory.

[Newsmaestro]

I think all here would agree Mr. Dufour is a great musical artist. That is exactly why this is news.
I fail to see what exactly is the objection to Mr. Patner's actions.

When a important member of Chicago Symphony leaves to go to LA, that is a story.
(add Dudamania and a LAPO press release, and it really is a story)

When that member leaves LA to go back to Chicago Before the season is even over, that is a story. (Even if it was because of a medical issue.)

When he slams the LA Phil when speaking about his reasons for coming back to Chicago, That is a real story, too.
--------"They have no tradition there — no tradition of sound and no tradition of working together as a dedicated ensemble. Maybe they will have that someday in the future.”-----
That is very strong language, especially in the genteel world of classical music (as portrayed in the press)

When Mr. Dufour (and his fiance) say that the article is incorrect, that is a story as well. And I, for one, am glad that a reporter would make sure that the truth got out.
(Also, If Dufour did not say those things, why is he apologizing?)

Obviously, this is but a blip on the marvelous career Dufour will continue to have. And the Chicago Symphony and LA Phil will both create great joy (and occasional heartache) to their listeners.

Even so, thanks are due to Mr. Patner.

[Scott]

This is so ridiculous it's funny. Either the reporter blatantly misstated what Dufour said or Dufour's a weasel with words. If it's the latter, he would have a lot more credibility if he stood up to what he said initially... Sure maybe said it with a bit more tact, but the general notion, though it may raise some hackles in LA, wasn't out of line. Lots of critics have noted that the LA Phil is one of the most forward-looking symphonies in the world, but also lacks the technical precision or "tradition of sound" that older symphonies like Chicago or Philadelphia has.

LA Phil's "tradition" is happening now, through engaging new audiences like what Dudamel is doing or promoting new music like what Salonen started. It's looking to the future, making it one of the most important orchestras today. The "tradition" will come with these efforts over time, just like orchestras like CSO have earned theirs through their proud history.

[John Green]

Hmmm, weirder and weirder. Wonder if "My fiancé and I have very personal reasons for our decision to go back to Chicago" means that she didn't want to live in LA?

Now if he doesn't want to play in the LA Phil, that's his right, but to trash the orchestra (& his woodwind colleagues) on his way out of town (not that I believe his negation of A. Patner's article for one minute), well that is just really tacky. But maybe it was the only way to cover up that he is umm well I really can't use the most descriptive words. Maybe he isn't the boss in the relationship.

[Helen Kinney]

Mr. Dafour's email indicates in no uncertain terms that Mr. Patner is a liar. Either that or Mathieu Dafour is schizophrenic, perhaps suffering from a major case of Sybil Syndrome---ie, multiple personalities?

There is something peculiar about the article from Patner, with all its quotes that pile on against the Los Angeles Philharmonic and that, in turn, also sound like finger-down-the-throat tinkles from the Chicago Chamber of Commerce.

Assuming Patner is telling the truth and quoting Dafour accurately, wouldn't a more responsible journalist have felt hesitant about penning an article that so clearly oozed a mix of both bile and kissy-kissy hugs, even if the interview subject happened to be a Chatty Cathy or not?

Again, something is very peculiar about either Dafour or Patner, if not both.

[Grammar Police]

To Andrew Patner: Don't you mean "affect"?

[Andrew Patner]

To Grammar Police: Yes, of course, affected and affect. I was suffering from Culture Monster Comments Section Effect. Thank you!

[Visitor]

This was the closing line in the unedited version of the article from the Chicago Sun-Times:

"I know that Chicago is home now," Dufour said. "After ten years I know that. Even in this winter weather -- it's a part of our life. I can say that again, 'our life.'"

Sort of the opposite of what one of the Windy City's most well-known public figures, Oprah Winfrey, reportedly said not long ago is a major reason she's ending her full-time activities in the Midwest, referring to the inclement weather.

When the LA Phil released a press release last year with the *presumably* accurate announcement that the French flutist was joining the orchestra, period, he was quoted at the time as dismissing the meaning of that bit of public-relations hype. The publicity also was characterized by some as atypical, or even as a faux pax (or gauche--there's another French word!), in the world of an orchestra's management.

So something apparently has been lost in translation from the beginning. The lesson in all this is that the LA Phil's president Deborah Borda and PR director both need to bone up on their French and get a better translator.

However, when Mathieu Dufour writes that he "never said or thought any negative things about the LA Phil, in fact I feel quite the opposite" -- with emphasis given to his words of "never" and "quite the opposite" -- then the question is who or what is being lost in translation?

[musician]

As a musician who has played with the L.A. Phil, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Dufour's assessment. It rings true. The L.A. Phil is simply not on the level of the CSO, although you'd never know it from all the attention it gets in the press.

Mr. Dufour wasn't too circumspect to have made those comments, but he's entitled to his opinion, and I admire his honesty. I'm sure he was not trying to be hurtful when he said those things. We should gracefully accept his apology and attempt to rectify the situation, and move on.

[DavidinLA]

In re Mr. Figueroa's comment: with no disrespect intended to M. Dufour's playing, which is quite amazing, Jeff Khaner in Philly and Joshua Smith in Cleveland are every bit his equal.

[Shenster]

As a musician in Los Angeles who has many good friends playing in many of the finest orchestras in the world , including in Chicago Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic, I can say most orchestral musicians who have diverse musical taste and preferences would whole-heartedly agree that the standard of classical journalism varies too widely, and many of these so called "classical music critics" are culturally shallow and out touch idiots, a really good example showcaed here, a provincial level writer in Chicago addressing personal grievances against the PR department of LA Phil by manufacturing false controversy based on nothing news worthy.