Category: music

Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer is facing harsh criticism over his reportedly deep involvement in the Vienna State Opera’s search for a new general director. “The chancellor is good friends with American star tenor Neil Shicoff, and Shicoff himself has indirectly expressed interest in the job. But Gusi’s open support for the American quickly led to accusations of cronyism” and suggestions that Shicoff is unqualified for the job.

Julian Lloyd Webber says that the Joyce Hatto recording scandal isn’t the semi-sweet melodrama that some are making it out to be. “There are those who are saying Hattogate is a human tragedy: an attempt by a loving husband to console his dying wife. Rubbish. Lots of people (my mother included) suffer terminal illness without pilfering other people’s hard work. Hatto and Barrington-Coupe were thoroughly dishonest, and Barrington-Coupe should be forced to face the music his wife lacked the talent to make.”

Soprano Ruth Ann Swenson has been a regular at the Metropolitan Opera for years, and this week, she’ll be on the famous stage in a production of Handel’s “Giulio Cesare.” But all of a sudden, the Met “appears no longer to want her services after nearly two decades of regular performances.” New Met chief Peter Gelb insists that Swenson isn’t being shut out, but acknowledges that he’s not a big fan.

“Hopefully we will look back on this and see it as a significant official announcement in that it started a move by the other major labels to follow suit. Certainly at the moment it doesn’t look as if it’s going to create this snowball effect, but it leaves the other major labels in a slightly untenable position. I would be surprised if DRM existed to its current extent by the end of the year.”

“Until this week, the orchestra that played in Virginia Beach was called – can you guess? – the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra. No more. On Sunday, the symphony changed its name. The new name is a single made-up word, and it doesn’t include ‘Virginia Beach’ or ‘orchestra.’ It is Symphonicity. Really.”

There has been an avalanche of stories recently about how classical music recording is dying. So Alex Ross does the math, counting releases and recording companies in the 1980s with those on a similar list today. “Conclusion: The major labels are much smaller than they used to be. But classical recording is bigger than ever.”

“With stunning swiftness China’s surging ranks of classical musicians have found a home in Western concert halls, conservatories and opera houses, jolting a musical tradition born in the courts and churches of Europe… The phenomenon, which has been building for at least a decade, has gathered steam in the last few years, injecting new vitality into the American classical music scene.”

“Robert Swedberg, general director of the Orlando Opera for the past 17 years, announced his resignation Monday.” The move appears to have been made by the company’s new CEO, who says that the “position of general director probably will be phased out.” Swedberg says that he has agreed not to talk to the media about his departure.

Diagnosed with “severe hypertension,” Colorado Symphony music director Jeffrey Kahane has canceled two months worth of appearances with the orchestra. “Severe or malignant hypertension provokes symptoms beyond those associated with typical high blood pressure. These can include confusion, headaches and vision irregularities. And if left untreated, it can lead to heart failure, kidney failure or stroke.”

‘Last year digital singles outsold plastic CDs for the first time. So far this year, sales of digital songs have risen 54 percent, to roughly 189 million units, according to data from Nielsen SoundScan. Digital album sales are rising at a slightly faster pace, but buyers of digital music are purchasing singles over albums by a margin of 19-1. Because of this shift in listener preferences, record labels are coming to grips with the loss of the album as their main product and chief moneymaker.”