The incoming director of the Paris Opéra, Nicolas Joël, is adding a clause to singers’ contracts forbidding appearances at other houses in the city. The head of the Opéra-Comique is crying foul, claiming that state-funded theaters shouldn’t undermine each other in such a way. “In the case that concerns us, an artist who sings three phrases at the Paris Opéra can’t sing elsewhere (in the capital). As if that could affect attendance at the Opéra.”
Category: music
Met’s Birthday Bash Brings In $6.3 Million
“Star power and visual razzle dazzle made for an entertaining evening at the Metropolitan Opera last night as the company celebrated its 125th anniversary with a sold out gala that raised $6.3 million.
The Most Expensive Piano Ever?
It’s a Bosendorfer. “A well-heeled buyer could take it home — or one just like it — for a cool $1.2 million. That reportedly makes it the most expensive new limited-edition grand piano available.”
A Leaner Season, With An Installment Plan For Subscribers
“There are slightly fewer concerts on the Washington Performing Arts Society’s calendar for the 2009-10 season. There will be less jazz, less world music, and — as yet — no dance at all. Some of this is due, of course, to the recession.” There are also fewer orchestras slated, which means subscribers will pay 20 percent less. “And a new WPAS policy allows subscribers to pay for their subscriptions in monthly installments.”
British Music Invasion Ends
“The British merchants were especially known for championing certain kinds of artists and genres. But their fatal flaw was a failure to understand the U.S. real estate market. HMV and Virgin had a history of overpaying for locations, which meant both chains usually had more unprofitable stores than profitable ones.”
Charleston Symphony Musicians Get Only Part Of Their Pay
“Players of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra did not get full pay on Friday. The symphony’s bank account depleted, management and musicians spent hours last week discussing their predicament and negotiating a solution, according to some involved.”
So Who Wants A CD? Turns Out, Quite A Few People…
“The future of the recording industry lies with downloading, trends suggest. It is not hard to find music lovers in their 20s who have never bought a physical CD. Yet recording companies, especially classical ones, continue to churn out CDs, and not just single discs but multidisc boxed sets.”
The Next Charlotte Church?
She’s 13-year-old Faryl Smith, and she sprang to fame on Britain’s Go Talent. “The accolade for the teenage mezzo-soprano comes as her first album is expected to break into the top 10, just one week after it was released. Faryl signed a £2.3m record deal with Universal for the album, which features a version of Amazing Grace, a Welsh hymn and Ave Maria, the song that catapulted her to fame on Britain’s Got Talent.”
Applications To Music Schools Soar
“Applications are soaring at music schools across the country, often mirroring the overall rise in college enrollment but in many cases surpassing the interest in other disciplines. Never mind that the chances of landing a paying job in a decent-size symphony orchestra have diminished, with many ensembles going out of business in recent years. Never mind that jazz clubs are becoming an endangered species.”
Baltimore Opera Throws In The Towel
“Three months after seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and canceling the remainder of the 2008-2009 season, the board of trustees of the Baltimore Opera Company voted today to pursue Chapter 7 liquidation instead and dissolve the 58-year-old organization.”