Esa-Pekka Salonen will leave his longtime podium post in Los Angeles in 2009, and will rededicate himself to his composing career, even as he becomes chief conductor of London’s Philharmonia. It’s an unusual career move, but Salonen says he planned it this way all along. “Many years ago, I made up my mind to leave when things were still good… This has been an amazing experience for me, the major journey in my life as a conductor. Whatever I do in the future will be different.”