Category: music

“There’s no question that the company would prefer to remain independent. The question is whether that is possible. A merger with the Kennedy Center would certainly solve one persistent problem, the company’s lack of an administrative head.”

DSO musicians say that “management has ceased to negotiate in good faith and that talks have reached an impasse.” The DSO administration “has not budged from its original demand for a 28-percent cut in the players’ annual base pay of $105,000.”

“Fans of Fairouz, the Arab world’s most famous singer, are up in arms about a bitter legal row that has stopped her performing live. From Beirut to the Gulf – and as far away as Australia – the diva’s supporters are making their voices heard to complain that she is being cruelly silenced.”

“Does Pitchfork, Lollapalooza or anyone else who rents out a public park for a private event have the right to limit the type of cameras people can bring in? Concert promoters are trying to control something–the creation and dissemination of images taken at an outdoor concert in a public park–that is largely beyond their control, and they’re starting to look silly doing it.”

“[Donald] Nally is leaving at the end of the 2010-11 season to spend more time with his Philadelphia choir, The Crossing. What wasn’t said: He’s leaving one of the top positions of its kind (Chicago’s previous chorus master is now at the Metropolitan Opera) – with uncertain financial prospects.”

“The 45-ton set for the Metropolitan Opera’s new Wagner Ring cycle created by Robert Lepage has arrived at the house. On Wednesday, it passed a key test when it was rolled from a wing onto center stage.” The stage did not collapse under all that weight, although “the [new] metal [support] structure underneath the stage needed some touch-up welding.”

“These days, a lot of people in the classical music world are worried that kids aren’t connecting with orchestral music. But the music of video games is emerging as one way orchestras may actually be reaching new audiences. It’s certainly proliferating.”

The role of opera impresario is not a new one to Mr. Kim. “Sea of Blood,” in fact, is the name of a revolutionary opera that he is credited with helping to create in 1971.

Jessica Duchen, after passing out at an unusually sweltering Prom concert: “Why can’t we have venues in which we can see natural light; hear music, thanks to good acoustics; enjoy decent sight-lines; feel close to the performers even when we are far away; go to the loo without queuing for the whole interval; and, crucially, breathe?”

“The orchestra owes $300,000 — including $100,000 from this past season’s shortfall in tickets and donations — and it’s about to lose another conductor.”