“The Los Angeles Philharmonic, building on its symbiotic relationship with Venezuela’s El Sistema national youth music training program, is partnering with Bard College in upstate New York and the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass., to launch a joint musical education initiative.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
The Philosophy Of Conflict-Of-Interest Rules
Editor and essayist Michael Kinsley maintains that “appearance of a conflict of interest” controversies are pointless, because only an actual conflict matters. Harvard professor Dennis Thompson contends that “[the[ purpose of conflict-of-interest rules is precisely to avoid an inquiry into the motives of individual reporters (and other professionals).”
New York’s Bessies Inaugurate A Lifetime Achievement Award – With Trisha Brown
“Trisha Brown, the modern dance choreographer, is to receive a ‘Bessie’ award for lifetime achievement … Ms. Brown’s award is the first of what will become an annual honor for choreographers” at the Bessies, officially called the New York Dance and Performance Awards.”
Architects Of Jerusalem’s Museum Of Tolerance Threaten To Quit
“According to a municipal official, the architects – Bracha and Michael Chyutin – threatened to resign Monday over differences with the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, which sponsored and financed the project. ‘The [Wiesenthal] Center drove the architects crazy. It asked for daily briefings and nagged them to death,’ the official said.”
Architecture Critic And City Planning Head Stroll Through South Bronx
Michael Kimmelman: “Following up on my review last week of Via Verde, a groundbreaking green housing project soon to be completed in the Melrose section of the South Bronx, I took a walk around that neighborhood with Amanda M. Burden, director the Department of City Planning under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.”
Moscow Conductor Fired After His Orchestra Mutinies
“High-flying conductor under question Mark Gorenstein is threatening to go to the law after his orchestra forced him out. Alexander Avdeyev, culture minister, sacked him on Thursday evening” from his post at the Svetlanov State Symphony following an uprising by musicians who refused to rehearse with Gorenstein.
The Age Of The Tyrannical Conductor Is Over
“We’re experiencing a kind of Arab Spring among orchestra musicians,” says journalist Norman Lebrecht, after ensembles in Moscow and Rio de Janeiro openly rebelled against their maestros. Lebrecht, critic Anne Midgette and League of American Orchestras president Jesse Rosen discuss the issue.
If Broadway Won’t Come To Jesus, Jesus Will Come To Broadway
“Broadway fans would be wise to brush up on the New Testament this season as two Christ-themed musicals” – Godspell next month and Jesus Christ Superstar in March – “are scheduled to descend from the heavens onto New York.”
Coming To The Aid Of Distressed French Aristocrats
“Seeking to offer a helping hand is the Association for the Mutual Assistance of the French Nobility. The Paris group helps down-and-out nobles rediscover some of the glory. It takes legal action against commoners trying to claim noble names, pays the school fees of promising young nobles and offers an informal meeting service to single nobles.”
Louisville Orchestra Contract Negotiations Deteriorate
“The Louisville Orchestra’s management rejected a contract proposal from its musicians Monday night, according to a news release from the musicians, who earlier in the day apparently rebuffed management’s latest contract offer.”