After four years without an official music director, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has signed a three-year contract with Charles Barker, giving him the dual titles of music director and conductor.

Barker has been fulfilling those roles year-to-year since the 2006-07 season, but has not held the formal titles. He will continue living in New York City, where he is principal conductor of the American Ballet Theatre, and will travel to Pittsburgh as needed.

Barker oversaw recent auditions for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra and has been working with the musicians to prepare for "The Sleeping Beauty," which he will conduct when it opens the ballet's 40th season this weekend. He will do the same with the production of "Swan Lake" in April. The ballet's remaining three programs will be done with recorded music.

Beyond that, said artistic director Terrence Orr, Barker will be on call for consultation on any other musical matters such as cuts and changes to the scores.

The three-year contract signals the PBT's improved financial health after a tenuous period in the middle of the decade, when musicians were asked to play at half-salary and recorded music was introduced to cut costs. In the absence of live music in the 2004-2005 season, the company dissolved its contract with David Briskin, its last music director and conductor.

But that was then, said Orr.

"We've had our third year in the black, so we're doing a lot better," he said. "Now we'll have to see what happens with this economy."

He described Barker as "one of the best ballet conductors I've come across in many years. He has an incredible understanding of the musicality of ballet. He's very attentive to the orchestra and to the dancers. He likes our orchestra and they really seem to like him, too."

Barker said he is looking forward to his new position.

"I've known Terrence for just about 25 years now and we've gone through a lot. … We've gotten to a point where we understand each other very well. We have a great deal of mutual respect, and it will be a pleasure working with the excellent musicians of the PBT orchestra."

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