Amidst the nebulous financial situation plaguing many US orchestras, BBC’s Matt Wells visited the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood to consult both players and administration alike.
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Archive for the ‘Articles of Interest’ Category
BBC Podcast: US Orchestras Surviving Recession
Part III: Anthology of Orchestra Economics
Breaking: Orchestra Finance Woes Part II, Syracuse Symphony
The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra cut its upcoming season from 40 to 34 weeks today in an effort to endure dwindling funds. Meanwhile, the orchestra needs to raise $500,000 to cover the deficit in its $7.4 million budget, says The Watertown Daily Times. Faced with possibility of shutting down for the summer, the SSO managed to keep its doors open with help from an anonymous benefactor. View Full Article »
Basically All North American Arts Organizations Losing Money: Part I
Barely Counts as News Anymore
Editor’s note: The Sound Post generally avoids covering the recent downturn in arts funding as it does little to help the situation and simultaneously neglects the more important aspect of the industry—the art. But just as the headlines flow about organizations seeing red, there is a similar trickle of news about surfacing grants and endowments. So, this multi-part story will attempt to chronicle the down and up of the music industry; for now we lament the dwindling zeros, but look for updates on how everyone is not only keeping their heads above water, but climbing back into the boat.
As the cooling economy continues to do its number on the numbers of many North American arts organizations, orchestras and opera houses across the US are reevaluating their budgets in an effort to weather the dreary economic climate. View Full Article »
Study Finds Classical Music Effective Antidepressant
Discover Penicillin Effective Antibiotic
A recent study in Mexico found that 29 out of 41 patients exhibiting low to medium depression showed improvement after listening to Mozart and other classical works for 50 minutes every day. Another group who received a 30 minute psychologist-led counseling session once a week did not see nearly the same results.
Of course, the question begs whether the frequency or quality of counseling is to blame, but nonetheless the study adds validity to what is often accused of being a bubba meinze—that listening to classical music is good for you. View Full Article »
Jarvi, DiDonato, Lang Lang, Jansen, Kissin win ECHO Klassik Awards
There are more but the title was getting long
Paavo Jarvi, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, has been named conductor of the year by The German Phono Academy in Berlin for his recordings of Beethoven’s 2nd and 6th “Pastoral” symphonies. View Full Article »
Singer Belts Nine Months After Lung Transplant
Charity Tillemann-Dick is a world class soprano with a world class story. Just nine months after undergoing a double lung transplant in tandem with open heart surgery, the tenacious diva regaled her doctor’s with a performance of Puccini’s aria O mio babbino caro.
Before her surgery, Tillemann-Dick battled her condition for 4 years on and off the stage. She continued to perform despite failing health, afraid that a hiatus from singing would stall her momentum. Read on for the CNN video of her performance and link to the original article.
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British Woman Donates Fortune to the Met, Bird Group
Mona Webster, a British woman living in Edinburgh who passed away at 96 last August, decreed that the majority of her fortune be split between two organizations which represented her greatest interests: the Metropolitan Opera and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
Webster was born on the Isle of Man in 1913, where her father was a lighthouse keeper. She first discovered her love for birds when she moved to Scotland as a girl, and was later introduced to opera via the Met’s Saturday afternoon broadcasts. The Met’s director of planned and special gifts, Gail Chesler, said that Ms. Webster remembered Saturday broadcasts as far back as 1939.
Webster had been in contact with Met representatives since 2000 when she was invited to New York for an opening night performance following a generous donation. She had attended performances prior to 2000 with opera tour groups however, which established her connection to the organization and prompted her to write the $7.5 million donation into her will. Needless to say, her generosity will not only boost the opera company but also serve to illustrate the boundless audience that art, music, and nature all inspire.
Source: NY Times.
Juilliard Acquires Beethoven and Mendelssohn Manuscripts
Musicians Discouraged from Bringing Pencils
To mark the completion of a $200 million addition, The Juilliard School will host a lecture event tonight at Alice Tully Hall. The school is expected to announce the acquisition of two original manuscripts as gifts from Bruce Kovner, chairman of Juilliard and billionaire trader. Including the two newest articles, Kovner will have donated 140 manuscripts to the Juilliard archive.
The two items include a copy of Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” sonata and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” each containing revisions and notes by its respective composer. There will be a concert as part of the event showcasing other works whose manuscripts have been obtained. This includes Beethoven’s “Grosse Fuge” and the last act of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.”
Kovner has expressed his intent to make these manuscripts available to scholars, having already begun processing the artifacts for access on juilliardmanuscriptcollection.org Read about the event, the acquisitions, and the archive here (source: NYT).
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Gets New Maestro
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra announced that Jacques Lacombe will succeed Neeme Järvi as music director. The 46 year old French Canadian is joining the organization during a period of frozen wages and a reduced concert schedule with the intent of revitalizing both orchestra and audience.
Lacombe says that in order to invigorate the classical scene a conductor must be inventive with his programming. While his preferences lean towards 19th century repertoire with 20th century classics, Lacombe remains fluid with his vision, saying that he doesn’t “want to be labeled,” and that he is still “discovering things.”
While the Ledger regards Lacombe as “untested,” he has many conducting credits including the Met. Where Jäarvi brought experience and renown, Lacombe will hopefully bring new energy and perspective.
Source: The Star Ledger
Newsweek: Classical Music’s Version of Dodgers vs. Yankees: A Youthquake Hits Both Coasts
California Remains Attached
Before the Dodgers relinquished their chance at the Series, Newsweek featured an article capitalizing on the potential bi-coastal competition and profiled the two conductors who recently claimed their coasts: Alan Gilbert and Gustavo Dudamel. Author Seth Colter Walls asserts that the LA and NY Philharmonics are not in competition, but instead share the goal of bringing conductors’ names into American—even international—homes.
Citing that both conductors have already commissioned and premiered works by well known composers, Walls indicates the pair intend to, and are capable of renewing interest in new music and bringing young audiences to concert halls. Click to read the Newsweek article containing the words “buttress” and “contemporaneity.”