“The Philadelphia Orchestra Association has withdrawn its invitation to Plácido Domingo to appear as part of its Opening Night concert on September 18, 2019. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, respectful, and appropriate environment for the Orchestra and staff, for collaborating artists and composers, and for our audiences and communities.” – Philadelphia Inquirer
Category: music
Metro DC’s National Philharmonic Is Officially Saved From Bankruptcy
“On Saturday afternoon, the orchestra’s board voted unanimously for a transition plan … which calls for the exit of the orchestra’s top leadership [and] brings a temporary close to weeks of tension between the orchestra’s musicians and senior administration.” – The Washington Post
Nine Women Accuse Plácido Domingo Of Sexual Harassment
“For decades, Placido Domingo, one of the most celebrated and powerful men in opera, has tried to pressure women into sexual relationships by dangling jobs and then sometimes punishing the women professionally when they refused his advances, numerous accusers told The Associated Press.” – Yahoo! (AP)
Is There A Market For Classical Music Streaming?
Anyone who’s tried to stream classical on Spotify or iTunes knows that it’s not easy. Now two new streaming services, created specifically for classical hope they’ve solved the problems. – Musical America
ASCAP And BMI Propose New Music Licensing Rules
“To help facilitate that orderly transition, and to protect both music creators and licensees alike, ASCAP and BMI are recommending four key provisions that would encompass newly formed decrees.” – Variety
How Brexit Will Affect Music In The UK
At the most basic level, Brexit raises concerns about the ability of musicians to tour overseas. And unless you’re The Rolling Stones or Beyonce, touring teams don’t come much bigger or work more often than orchestras. Classical musicians agree no-deal could mean uncertainty over work permits, delays at European borders and complications with moving instruments across the continent. – BBC
Five Takeaways From The Baltimore Symphony Meltdown
On some future day, the solution for what now seems like an insurmountable problem might in hindsight seem as obvious as mounting a motor on four wheels seems in 2019. – Baltimore Sun
The Rise Of The ‘Catalyst-Conductor’
Lidiya Yankovskaya (a fine example of the phenomenon herself): “In addition to their traditional duties within established institutions, an increasing number of conductors run independent organizations, launch musical and civic initiatives, serve as catalysts for the development of new work, and use their positions to cross disciplinary boundaries. In bypassing institutional gatekeepers, these conductors have brought relevance, vitality, and an expanding number of previously unrepresented voices into the field. Indeed, the dynamic new ‘catalyst-conductor’ could help bring the revitalization that the classical music industry so desperately seeks.” – NewMusicBox
Is Classical Music Journalism Leaving Reviews Behind?
“More and more, critics are going beyond reviews that focus on musicality and technique to report on problems concerning diversity, politics, and workplace culture. Independent publications such as I Care If You Listen, NewMusicBox, and National Sawdust’s The Log reflect a more diverse creative landscape and a more politically-conscious audience. There’s an increasing drive, [Jennifer] Gersten tells CJR, ‘to ask what a given concert is doing for the reputation of an institution and for the field at large … Can we use this concert, this particular piece, as a sign that there are better things to come?’” – Columbia Journalism Review
David Zimbalist: Time To Clean House At Curtis Institute
“The program at Curtis is one of the most intense and stressful of any educational programs in the world. My cousin [a former director of the school] believed in its mission. It will and must continue, but it is time for Curtis to clean house. The fact that there were those who allegedly used their roles as mentors inappropriately is bad enough, but the cover up that has been waged in their defense is far worse.” – Philadelphia Inquirer