Joe Kluger’s departure from the executive directorship of the Philadelphia Orchestra will leave a large void not only in Philadelphia, but in the American orchestra scene writ large. For better or for worse, Kluger was a major player on the national scene, and he led his orchestra through some of its most tumultuous years, including a bitter strike in 1996. The orchestra’s musicians don’t seem terribly sorry to see him go, but the ensemble’s board chair points out that he loved the ensemble enough to take a far lower salary than his peers in the industry. A search for Kluger’s replacement will commence immediately.