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BBC Proms Anticipates Record Breaking Attendance

Colin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:26:28 +0000

A record number of performances sold out at the BBC Proms this year, launching the average attendance per event at Albert Hall to 4,000 concertgoers. 40 of the 76 concerts have experienced a packed house, which The Telegraph suspects might be related to the daily allotment of 1,000 tickets for £5 (~$7.50) each.

Along with programs celebrating the great masters of classical music, there were spotlights for the theatrical works of Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim. There was also an event featuring the original music from Britain’s hit TV show Doctor Who.

Source: The Telegraph

Montreal, Nashville Symphony Orchestras Receive Mega-Donations

Colin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:47:58 +0000

As the orchestras around the world continue to tighten their belts, it seems a financial renaissance is taking place among classical institutions. Operations are being streamlined to accommodate smaller budgets, and coffers are being refilled to allay the looming threat of Chapter 11. Read on for a few instances of philanthropy!

Among these organizations is the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, who received $25,000 from Music Rising—an organization geared towards supporting musical communities in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. After flood waters set back the organization by an estimated $42 million, the donation will help repair the damaged hall and recover a collection of instruments known as the “instrument petting zoo,” used to introduce instruments to children.

Source: broadwayworld.com

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra also received a rather handsome stipend courtesy of Loto-Québec, a Canadian gaming organization. Loto-Québec has taken the orchestra under its wing, instilling the MSO with $10 million initially, and an additional $8.5 million each year until 2014. The total $35.5 million should serve to ensure the MSO avoids financial crisis any time soon.

Source: Montreal Gazette

Stay tuned for more!

BBC Podcast: US Orchestras Surviving Recession

Colin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:20:33 +0000

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.

The BSO’s managing director, Mark Volpe, indicated that although the orchestra is doing comparatively well, they are still subject to the fiscal erosion straining orchestras nationwide.

“We had to cut $4 million out of our budget,” he said, “to suggest we’re immune is actually not accurate.” He noted that their stable audience and sponsorship base will allow the organization to weather a downturn that some institutions are finding unrecoverable.

One way they have curbed expenditure is through substitutes. While the ensemble admits the culture of the orchestra may be affected by having temporary performers in the group, it allows the orchestra to avoid filling salaried positions while maintaining the overall quality of the music.

For the complete podcast check out the BBC site here.

Breaking: Orchestra Finance Woes Part II, Syracuse Symphony

Colin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:57:48 +0000

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.

The orchestra has been operating with deficits since 2007 and, in an attempt to allay further erosion, has shortened its coming season from 40 to 34 weeks after approval from the musician’s union (Syracuse.com). Currently feeling for its bootstraps, the symphony has hired both a branding firm and its old director, Jeffry Comanici, as consultants to tackle the crisis. To date, the SSO has raised $1.93 million in gifts and grants to cover the 2010 season, with that number set to break $2 million in order for the organization to stay solvent.

There have been several attempts to deal with the decrease in income, including a pay cut for music director Daniel Hege and a two year pay freeze beginning in 2009 for the musicians. Now, it is up to donors and the board to support the organization, and give it the time and the chance to overhaul its earning power.

Financially troubled Syracuse Symphony Orchestra faces the music, syracuse.com.
Sweet Sounds May Be Cut, The Watertown Daily Times.

Basically All North American Arts Organizations Losing Money: Part I

Colin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:46:54 +0000

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.

It has touched almost every music organization both in the US and internationally, including the top orchestras. The Philadelphia Orchestra has been consistently under-performing (financially), with a $7 million one-time emergency fund set to ‘bridge’ the gap in its $44 million budget. While most of that money is coming from the board, the Philly still needs to stimulate ticket sales for next year in order to avoid a similar quagmire. While the opening of Verizon hall in 2001 initially prompted more robust attendance, the orchestra has lately been seeing only 2/3 tickets sold. Hopefully the newly overhauled management and music directorship will be able to jump-start the withering income of one of America’s oldest and most revered organizations.

See a detailed explanation of their financial situation at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Neighboring The Philadelphia Orchestra is the New Jersey State Opera, who currently owes $230k in back pay to contractors and musicians who worked on their production of “Porgy and Bess” in May. While the performance was an exciting rebirth for the company and a welcome endeavor for the city of Newark, even Newark Symphony Hall has been left wanting its fees. The company is diligently seeking to raise money so they might escape impending legal action from the National Labor Relations Board; they fear their next scheduled production might in fact become a fundraiser. One hopes that the company may find its funding and continue to revitalize opera in Newark.

Here’s the article on nj.com detailing the debacle.

While the financial future of some North American arts organizations might be uncertain, they are nonetheless the foundation of music and culture in our continent. While ticket money is now worth more than ever, the music world will certainly bounce back of its own accord, bailout or not.

Study Finds Classical Music Effective Antidepressant

Colin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:55:19 +0000

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.

Researchers observed that by the fourth session patients were already showing positive results, citing music’s ability to activate areas of the brain associated with development and plasticity. They remarked that while music may be a simple and effective way to treat anhedonia, the loss of pleasures in daily activities, it should not replace therapy or medication.

Check out the article at Miller McCune here.

Seiji Ozawa to Return Following Cancer Treatment

Colin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:24:45 +0000

Seiji Ozawa, who was diagnosed with cancer in January, will conduct at the Saito Kinen Festival in Japan for the first time since his treatment. While his “real physical strength has yet to come back,” Ozawa will perform at Carnegie Hall in December and plans to return to his post at the Vienna State Opera.

Still, according to BBC Ozawa has lost 33 pounds and “can’t eat much.” He has canceled several performances in Europe scheduled for the Fall, but has retained his commitment to four comeback concerts in September according to The Mainichi Daily News

BBC Proms Underway

Colin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:48:26 +0000

Photo: Amanda Slater

The BBC Proms 2010 are currently underway at Royal Albert Hall in London. The Proms, which is an all-classical concert series, began in 1895 and consists of nearly 90 performances this year. While Royal Albert Hall houses the larger shows, Cadogan Hall hosts chamber music events and Proms in the Park includes concerts all over the United Kingdom on the “Last Night.”

The massive festival yields unsurpassed attendance with tickets available at all different price points. The Telegraph is attending to the grandeur of it all with coverage of each individual prom; tomorrow will begin with the 23rd prom of this summer’s season.

Check out BBC Proms 2010 Website for information, schedules, and tickets, and see The Telegraph’s coverage of BBC Proms 2010 here.

Deutsche Grammaphone Releases Kleiber Discography

Colin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:10:00 +0000

To celebrate what would have been Carlos Kleiber’s 80th birthday, Deutsche Grammaphone has consolidated his entire discography into one collection. Known for refusing more engagements than he took, Kleiber maintained an esoteric mystique while solidifying his reputation as a foremost conductor of the 20th century.

Though his recording career was neither long nor prolific, what he did he put on tape were all compelling performances of monolithic works in the repertoire. The four operas in the collection are Der Freischütz, Tristan und Isolde, Die Fledermaus, and La Traviata. Accompanied by three CD’s worth of symphonies, the collection outlines Kleiber’s sparse but extraordinary career.

Though the maestro took a lifetime to conduct the same number of performances Toscanini practically did in a year, the precision, elegance, and involvement in the music is evident in what Carlos Kleiber’s legacy.

Buy the CD here or see article on The Guardian.

Jarvi, DiDonato, Lang Lang, Jansen, Kissin win ECHO Klassik Awards

Colin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:05:09 +0000

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.

Similarly, Lang Lang and Joyce DiDonato each won instrumentalist and singer of the year, respectively. Janine Jansen, Evgeny Kissin, and 6 others won concert recording of the year.

Additionally, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra won best world recording of the year under the baton of Sir Charles Mackerras, who passed away this month.

The ECHO Klassik Awards will be presented in October at the philharmonic hall in Essen. For more information see the article on Billboard.