Category: music

“The Curtis Institute of Music is moving ahead with plans to demolish all or part of several buildings on Locust Street [in Philadelphia] to make way for a 10-story tower and adjoining four-story structure housing an orchestral rehearsal hall, studios, cafeteria, and dorms for 88 students.” But there are historic preservation concerns that could stand in the way of the expansion.

In the days since Radiohead released its new album for download under a pay-what-you-want policy, the band’s fans have been participating in what amounts to a fascinating study in consumer behavior. “Each donation is a sort of commentary: on the nature of fandom and band loyalty, on the indier-than-thou current rock scene, and on the worth of buying — not sampling or stealing — new music.”

Donald Runnicles was a surprise choice to succeed Ilan Volkov as chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony. “What on earth is bringing a conductor who works in the world’s leading opera houses, and with orchestras of the calibre of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, to Glasgow? The answer, from a dozen angles, is always the same: it’s the chemistry that ignited when Sir Brian McMaster teamed Runnicles with the BBC SSO at the 2001 Edinburgh International Festival.”

John Adams may be best known as an agent of minimalism, but he didn’t become America’s most successful living composer by remaining static as the world changes around him. “Adams moved years ago far beyond the basic chords, reiterative melodies and pulsating beat of that musical language.” Why the change in harmonic thinking? Put simply, he “began to feel that the minimalism was like cubism, limited in its potential. My needs are enormous. I need expressiveness, shock, surprise, high energy.”

The Classic FM Gramophone Awards are the biggest of their kind in the world, and the classical music awards combine votes from 15 classical radio networks from 13 different countries. “Held at the Dorchester Hotel in London, this year’s ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Luciano Pavarotti, who died last month. German violinist Julia Fischer has walked away with the award for Artist of the Year.”

“The hottest ticket in the busy fall concert season isn’t any of the superstar reunions by Genesis, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band or Van Halen, but the schizophrenic “Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Tour,” which kicks off 54 dates later this month… Kids can’t seem to get enough of the soon-to-be 15-year-old pop sensation, and their parents seem to be willing to pay any price to fulfill their dreams of seeing her in person.”

Musicians of the Pacific Symphony have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new five-year contract. The outcome of the ratification vote wasn’t really in doubt, since the contract will boost the musicians’ pay a whopping 41%.

Vasily Petrenko is shockingly young. And in his short time leading the Liverpool Philharmonic he’s dramatically upped the orchestra’s fortunes. “Audience figures are up. The finances are more secure. Recordings and tours are planned. And the orchestra is set to assume a leading role when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture next year.”

“I think there’s a relationship: math. Particularly with jazz, but not necessarily only with jazz — with classical music, too. There’s also a sense of exploration that’s involved with science and with music that links them together.”

The “Little Einsteins” cartoon purports to introduce kids to classical music. “I suppose some will try to assess ‘Little Einsteins’ by what it can do for classical music. Will it lead to a new generation of concert-goers or redress the pullback of music education in public schools? That’s all beside the point.”