Category: music

Sarah Hicks is the Minnesota Orchestra’s new principal conductor of pops and presentations. “Hicks, whose appointment takes effect immediately and lasts four years, became the first female staff conductor when she joined the orchestra as assistant conductor in 2006.”

“Although nobody officially tracks the number of recording studios, the consensus among industry experts is that the big commercial facilities have taken a major hit. They estimate that as many as half of the L.A. area’s commercial studios have closed or been sold to artists for private use.”

Sales suggest The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” is a good song. “David Meredith, CEO of Music Intelligence Solutions, says there’s no magic in that; it’s math. His software, called Hit Song Science, gave the song a hit score of 8.9 out [of] 10.”

“Gilbert officially assumed his post at a gala concert, on September 16th. Back-bench grumblings aside, the risk seems smartly taken. First, Gilbert is a native New Yorker who intends to remain in the city most of the year. He will not be one of those directors who work their magic for twelve contractually obligated weeks and then vanish into their villas.”

“In his first season as general director, Timothy O’Leary seems to have followed his predecessor Charles MacKay’s playbook, cutting expenses where possible without affecting artistic quality. Also assisting with the bottom line were increased sales at the box office, with 92 percent attendance in a popular season. That’s an increase of over 5 percent from 2008, with a sizable new cohort of ticket buyers: 15 percent of them hadn’t been to OTSL before.”

“Determination is just one quality Allison Vulgamore will need to run the $45 million-a-year organization successfully. Charisma wouldn’t hurt, either, given the orchestra’s $3.4 million deficit last season and a predicted shortfall this season as high as $7.5 million; an endowment market value of $120 million, half of what was hoped for by this time; a musical-leadership transition requiring great finesse; and, already in this young season, thousands of empty seats.”

“Very much at the heart of what we’re trying to do,” says Spencer de Grey, an opera fan who headed Foster + Partners’ design team for the Winspear, “is making the building not one that you have to pluck up your courage and enter, but very transparent.”

“Members of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra said the final contract offer has come from management and that it’s insulting.”

“Drilling foes worry that oil and gas wells will pollute water and air, harm wildlife and ruin the quality of life in the agricultural area. They are outraged that an internationally recognized institution like the Santa Fe Opera could potentially profit from oil and gas drilling.”

“Today, electronic sounds dominate the charts. But we’ve domesticated the electricity that once sounded so exciting and packed it into little white computers. As Human League founder Martyn Ware says, the element of risk has gone and watching even the pioneering Kraftwerk on their last tour ‘was like watching four old guys checking their email’.”