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¶ The Dallas Symphony's Walter Hendl, 40, closed out an eight-year career by informing its board that "the orchestra is sufficiently institutionalized to profit by a change of personalities, and I must profit by a change of scene.'' When he arrived in Dallas after a brief fling at writing show tunes (music for Dark of the Moon) and four years as assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic, New Jersey-born Conductor Hendl was one of the youngest permanent conductors of a major U.S. symphony. He shook up Dallas musical life by programing new works, quickly earned a reputation as a topflight musician. But he was bored with the business side of his orchestra, let its deficit inch up, and last year enraged many a music lover by failing to turn up for a scheduled concert in Fort Worth (he was napping at home). Conductor Hendl will continue to lead the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (which he successfully conducted as a sideline for four years), will probably guest-conduct the rest of the time. A leading contender for his Dallas post: Jose Iturbi, 62.
