Category: music

Author Joe Queenan has spent a lot of time listening to new music in his life, and he’s come to the conclusion that it’s nothing but pseudo-intellectual garbage. “Having spent most of the last century writing music few people were expected to understand, much less enjoy, the high priests of music [are] now portrayed as innocent victims of the public’s lack of imagination.”

Tom Service says that Joe Queenan’s rant against new music conveniently ignores what’s actually being written now in favor of tired attacks on compositional ideas that have long since gone out of fashion.Furthermore, “there is another story in all this, one that Queenan doesn’t even mention. The music of the 20th century now dominates most orchestral concerts you will ever hear.”

“The Ohio Arts Council has provisionally approved the second year of a sustainability grant for the troubled Columbus Symphony. The $136,947 grant — which comes after one of $154,907 — would be issued if the orchestra confirmed a 2008-09 season and developed a debt-reduction plan.” The CSO board has announced plans to shut down the organization unless musicians accept large pay cuts.

“Boxed-set sales have fallen off the cliff; they went from something to nothing. Unless the majors seriously look at reducing the price of the boxed set — they still think they should cost $39.98 or $49.98 — sales will continue to slide.”

“What could be more authentic than a complaints choir that pours out its frustrations to a completely impervious audience? As my kvetching grows louder, so does my rage. I storm off to a smattering of applause that can do nothing to smudge the shared sense of catharsis. And, for once, I have the oddest feeling: I have absolutely nothing to complain about.”

“Christopher Hahn’s promotion from artistic director to general director of the Pittsburgh Opera might appear to be a nod by its board in the direction of artistry, given that he’s had tremendous success re-inventing the opera company’s look and invigorating its casting since arriving here in 2000. [But] it was Hahn’s ability to make difficult decisions with a limited artistic budget that helped secure the promotion.”

A bass player with the Cincinnati Symphony has been arrested and charged with beating his wife. Boris Astafiev, who has been with the CSO since 1999, “is accused of pulling his wife’s hair and punching her on the head.”

The St. Louis Symphony has announced a three year deal under which Wachovia Securities will become the orchestra’s primary season sponsor. The hope is that the Wachovia money will hep the SLSO dig out from under its significant debt. “Despite assorted cost-saving measures, the orchestra posted a $3.4 million deficit in fiscal 2007.”

“Reviews of the opera version of the David Cronenberg horror movie, which opened at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet last week, were lukewarm, although the work got a prolonged standing ovation on opening night.”

“A strike at La Scala has forced the opera house to cancel Monday’s opening performance of Puccini’s “La Boheme,” produced by Franco Zeffirelli. Performances on Wednesday and Friday have also been called off.”