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Happy Talk From The Podium

It used to be that conductors proved themselves with their music. Nowadays, writes Sarah Bryan Miller, many conductors seem more at ease schmoozing with their audiences than showing insight in their music. “The younger ones, in particular, have grown up with the idea that they should be as comfortable chatting – on radio, on television, to an audience – as actually leading an orchestra. Besides, conductors are not, as a breed, short on ego. Nattering from the podium seems, for many of the more egregious practitioners, to be just another way of hogging the spotlight.”

Winnipeg Sym Can’t Make Payroll

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, which has been facing a severe cash crunch for many months, announced this weekend that it would not be able to make its Friday payroll. The orchestra is $800,000 in the hole for the current season, and may not be able to continue presenting concerts without a quick influx of donated cash. A $250,000 loan from the federal government has been approved, but the WSO won’t get the money until it raises another $750,000 on its own. “The orchestra began the season with a $1.8-million accumulated deficit. Even if it gets the money it needs to finish the season, it expects to almost double the deficit to $3.3 million.”

Winnipeg Musicians Will Play For Free

The musicians of the cash-strapped Winnipeg Symphony have announced that they will continue to woprk, at least for the time being, despite not receiving paychecks on Friday. “You have to separate the issues,” according to a spokesman for the musicians. “There’s a long-term relationship with the audience… and the business issues.”

How Much Bailout Is Too Much For The ENO?

“The beleaguered English National Opera is worth saving ‘but not at any cost’, the Arts Council of England has said at a meeting discussing ENO’s cash troubles.” The issue of whether the ENO ‘deserves’ a bailout is a delicate one, but some council members have been disgusted by revelations of finanial mismanagement and continuing fiscal irresponsibility at the company. At the very least, any bailout package from the Arts Council is likely to include stipulations that the ENO clean up its act, and provide evidence that it is doing so.

The Sound Inside Your Head

HyperSonic Sound is something entirely new in sound reproduction. It sounds like it’s coming from inside your head. “It is no exaggeration to say that HSS represents the first revolution in acoustics since the loudspeaker was invented 78 years ago – and perhaps only the second since pilgrims used ‘whispering tubes’ to convey their dour messages.”

Ohio Museums Expand

Despite a down economy, four museums in Ohio are embarking on big expansion projects. The Cleveland Museum of Art announced plans two months ago for a $225 million renovation and expansion, the Toledo Museum of Art is spending $27 million on a new, 47,000-square-foot center for glass art, in June, the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati will open its new $37-million Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center, designed by Zaha Hadid of London, and the Akron Museum is raising $34 million for an expandion.

DC: Invest In Arts And Economy Will Improve

Washington DC has a budget deficit of $127 million. But some are advocating the city invest $100 million in the arts. “One of the cardinal rules of business is that it takes money to make money, and experts say investing in arts and theater projects is the way to spur economic development. City councilwoman Sharon Ambrose, the mayor and a number of cultural leaders argue an improved arts community would prompt a better quality of life for the city.”