“Philadelphia has regularly exported important new music – some that won the Pulitzer, and a lot that deserved to – usually in spurts. The prevalence of educational institutions, enlightened philanthropy, and a relatively low cost of living among Northeastern cities has made this a place where composers can try out all sorts of things and not worry too much about consequences.”
Category: music
Met Opera Sells Record Number Of Movie Theatre Tickets
The Metropolitan Opera has sold a record 2.2 million tickets for its nine high-definition telecasts to theaters this season, an increase of 400,000 from 2008-2009.
Tehran Symphony Conductor Quits The Orchestra
Mashayekhi Sahbaii, “like his predecessor, Ali Rahbari, had complained about delays in the payment of the musicians’ wages and said that salaries fell short of covering the increases in the cost of living.”
That Really Really Bad Pianist Playing With The Philadelphia Orchestra
“Was Ivo Pogorelich really that bad during his Philadelphia Orchestra performance Wednesday in Suntory Hall? In a word, yes.”
Now Everyone’s A Music Video Producer
“As with other viral phenomena, the professional productions inspire others who learn the choreography and share videos of their performances online. Then the tributes lead to tributes.”
Rights Org Threatens To Shut Down Irish Music Blogs
“The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) has moved against several of the country’s MP3 blogs, demanding licences that threaten to shut down some of Ireland’s most-respected music sites.”
Worldwide Music Sales Down Seven Percent In 2009
“But the music market in 13 countries, including the UK, grew during the past year, according to data released by recording industry body the IFPI.”
John Luther Adams Wins $100,000 Nemmers Composition Prize
“Alaska composer John Luther Adams has been named the 2010 winner of the $100,000 Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition. … In 2004, the award went to John Adams, the composer of Nixon in China, who is sometimes confused with the Alaska composer, who lives near Fairbanks.”
Masses Of Marimbas Marauding Through Minnesota
“That sound you may hear all over the Twin Cities in coming days is a marimba – or maybe many marimbas. Percussion performers from around the world are descending on Minnesota for ‘Marimba 2010’ – maybe the biggest marimba event ever.”
In The Wake Of Dudamel’s Agent Switch
“[T]he preening on one side and seething annoyance on the other attest to the pride involved. To add spice to the story, both agencies are based in London, the world capital of classical music deal-making. And both are run by men who, 30 years ago, cut their teeth in the same office.”