The departure of Seattle Symphony executive director Paul Meecham announced Monday has not only fueled ongoing rumors of friction between Meecham and music director/conductor Gerard Schwarz, but resurrected speculation about the musicians’ widespread weariness with Schwarz, whose contract was recently extended to 2011. Barring an abrupt resignation or all-out revolt, Schwarz, who became music director in 1985, will become the orchestra’s longest-serving maestro.

The Seattle Weekly’s Roger Downey blogged about it here while articles in the Seattle Times and the P-I offer more details.

Some of the musicians I've spoken to express frustration with Schwarz, ranging from technical gripes about his conducting (I've had a few myself, yet to be fair you can always find orchestra musicians to complain about any conductor) to long-held grudges both public and private (such as the l'affaire Cerminaro) to a simple desire for new blood, new approaches, and maybe new music.