Two months ago, the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony confirmed rumors that it intended to invite conductor Junichi Hirokami, 46, to be its seventh music director. One problem: the orchestra hadn’t even begun negotiations on a contract to hire Hirokami. Now some are wondering – does the conductor really want the job?
Blog
Tracey Emin On Art In London, Art In New York
“In London the artists rule, but in New York the galleries do. Gallerists here seem to be almost patriarchal figures, and the art scene is really male-dominated here. In London it’s a lot more open to women. People here don’t seem to expect me to have a sense of humor.”
Nutcrackers On Parade
“Central Florida has a cornucopia of competing Nutcrackers, all aiming to elbow their way into our holiday-addled consciousness. Armies of young dancers are set to take the stage for this annual ritual of holiday zest and good cheer, while even greater legions of viewers prepare to watch them. The challenge, as ballet directors face an ever-growing roster of Nutcracker productions each year, is to make theirs the show audiences will flock to see. It’s enough to turn directors into stage-apron hucksters.”
The New Classical?
“From Philadelphia to Sioux Falls, orchestras are embracing a growing breed of contemporary composer that emphasizes the classical tradition of writing to entertain, rather than to explore academic, less accessible theories. While the point is partly to please crowds, these new works are taken seriously. The popularity of this new classical music — variously called “contemporary classical,” “alt-classical” or “music of our time” — represents the latest stage in a reaction to the 1950s and ’60s, when the dominant composers were academics who invented tonal structures that broke with European musical traditions.”
RSC Makes A Surplus
The Royal Shakespeare Company records an operating surplus of £1.7 million for 2004/5. “The company has now more than eliminated the £2.8 million deficit inherited by Michael Boyd when he took over as artistic director in 2003.”
A Right To Culture (A Campaign Begins)
A campaign was launched in Glasgow last week to demand “cultural” rights for all residents of the UK. “The campaign was launched in Scotland after the Cultural Commission – which delivered its plan for Scotland this summer – said all citizens should have four cultural rights: to fulfil their creative potential, to take part in cultural life, to an enriching communal life in a satisfying environment, and to participate in designing and implementing cultural policy. lasgow City Council also said it was creating a charter of “cultural entitlements” for its citizens, which may be implemented as early as next year.”
Study: Illegal Downloads Rule
A new study “suggests European consumers who download music from illegal file-sharing websites outnumber those using legal services. It says illegal networks are used three times as much as legal ones. It also warns that file-sharers, particularly young people, have little concept of music as a paid commodity.”
Boffo Movie Weekend Box Office
“As of Sunday, this year’s cumulative box-office take continued to lag behind last year’s by about 6%, or about $475 million. Of the 47 weekends so far in 2005, only 14 have done more business than the comparable weekends in 2004.” But it looks as if Thanksgiving weekend might hit the books as the second-biggest box office ever…
Putting Yale’s $100 Million Music School Gift In Perspective
“Those raising ethical questions about the gift to the Yale School of Music should first put the dollar amount in perspective. Private and corporate donors in America have to compensate for the government’s negligible support of the fine arts. In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts gave out grants totaling just over $100 million. In France, in recent years, the state subsidy for the Paris Opera alone has averaged roughly the same amount. That the Yale School of Music must contend at all with the charge of elitism is doubly discouraging, since it has long been committed to fostering music as part of an education in the humanities.”
The Phenomenon That Is Art Basel Miami
“This year, the fair will present 266 art galleries — representing works by more than 2,000 artists. It is the largest field of galleries presented by the fair since its inception in December 2002. ‘We’re probably close to 100 percent of the wish list of galleries we would like to have’.”