"When I heard the news, I thought it can't be true," music director Yuri Temirkanov told the Sun. "Buddy must have been offended by something."

Zamoiski has not commented on his reasons for departing, but Glicker said, "I think he had some fundamental disagreement with what we are doing."

Richard Hug, another longtime board member, has also left. "I wish them well," Hug said. "I really don't want to say any more."

Recently, Glicker announced a controversial plan to sell the BSO's Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to a new nonprofit subsidiary in order to pay down its debt, then lease the hall. According to the Sun, since Glicker succeeded John Gidwitz as president, several staff members have left, as has Jay Wilson, the vice president of the orchestra's board.

Before coming to the BSO as chief marketing officer, Glicker was the director of marketing for the BMG classical label and the head of BMG Australia. He also worked for the Dannon yogurt company, Proctor & Gamble, and two Internet music companies.