Women are still a rare site behind the conductor’s podium, and Italian conductor Elisabetta Maschio is acutely aware of the prejudice. “A woman conductor is still a new idea in my country as well as in all of Europe. Every time I stand on the podium, I can feel people giving me a curious look behind my back.” – Korea Times
Author: Douglas McLennan
THE LINES BETWEEN JAZZ AND CLASSICAL…
Pianist Uri Caine is rewriting Bach (Mahler and Schumann too) and has some ideas about connecting jazz and classical music. “The success of a project like this depends on Caine demonstrating to the classical players that improvisation is not desecration; and convincing the jazz players that Bach’s discipline still allows them room to manoeuvre. ‘If the musicians are open to it, it works’.” – The Independent (UK)
SIMON RATTLE’S JAZZ ROOTS
Simon Rattle has made a pretty good career for himself as a conductor. But it wasn’t his first love. ” I grew up wanting to be a jazz drummer. My dad was a little depressed when I crossed over to what he saw as the other side.” – The Independent (UK)
I WRITE THE CHECKS…
Alberto Vilar has become the Daddy Warbucks of the music world. In the past few seasons he has given some $150 million for projects he likes. “Mr. Vilar has not been shy about demanding displays of gratitude commensurate with such gifts. At the Met, for example, an operagoer may now sit in the Vilar Grand Tier or dine at the pricey Vilar Grand Tier Restaurant. As a result, he has become an easy target for critical barbs, particularly in Europe.” – New York Times
THE MUSIC WORLD’S EXCLUSIVE CLUB
The Los Angeles Philharmonic just chose 12 new players to fill orchestra vacancies. More than 1000 musicians auditioned, chosen from the thousands more who applied. The decision process of finding players for the modern elite orchestra is an arduous murky road. – Los Angeles Times
HOW WELSH IS WELSH?
A Los Angeles judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought against a Welsh choir. The plaintiff contended that the choir wasn’t Welsh enough and that by calling itself Welsh it was “engaging in deceptive practices. – BBC
SHAKESPEARE’S DAY…er…NIGHT JOB
A new biography claims that Shakespeare was a highly regarded actor and that he thought of himself as “doing a little writing on the side. – The Independent (UK)
I WRITE THE CHECKS…
Alberto Vilar has become the Daddy Warbucks of the music world. In the past few seasons he has given some $150 million for projects he likes. “Mr. Vilar has not been shy about demanding displays of gratitude commensurate with such gifts. At the Met, for example, an operagoer may now sit in the Vilar Grand Tier or dine at the pricey Vilar Grand Tier Restaurant. As a result, he has become an easy target for critical barbs, particularly in Europe.” – New York Times
SHAKESPEARE’S DAY … er … NIGHT JOB
A new biography claims that Shakespeare was a highly regarded actor and that he thought of himself as “doing a little writing on the side.” – The Independent (UK)
WHAT’S AN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TO DO?
Recent productions at London’s National Theatre bring up questions about the role of the artistic director. Trevor Nunn recently spent a lot of time “fine tuning” another director’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.” But critics are beginning to ask – shouldn’t the artistic director be out developing new talent and bringing it into the theatre rather than fixing broken plays? – The Independent (UK)