Category: music

Ontario’s Orchestra London is on the verge of a possible musicians’ strike over low pay and lack of benefits. “Most of the 29 full-time musicians (there are also 17 part-time musicians) are paid $23,223 for working a 36-week season… They receive no dental, drug, disability or health benefits. But the musicians are even more incensed by the fact that at a time when the symphony’s operating revenue is at an all-time high, tickets sales are healthy and wages in other sectors of the organization have increased… base pay for musicians has inched up only 1.5 per cent per year since 2000.”

A performance of Puccini’s La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera went awry this week to the extent that conductor Placido Domingo found himself getting lustily booed before the beginning of the third act. Domingo’s offense was apparently to not have followed star soprano Anna Netrebko closely enough during her big arias in the first two acts. “In order to fully realize her artistic vision, she allowed each phrase to develop organically, unhurriedly, employing tasteful rubato and holding high notes expertly and impressively. But Mr. Domingo trudged along inattentively at metronomic speed, running noticeably ahead of his diva.”

Everybody loves to complain, but no one likes to listen to other people’s complaints. If only bitching and moaning could somehow be made more aesthetically enjoyable, like maybe by having a 100-voice choir sing your personal kvetches in four-part harmony…

Wagner’s Ring cycle is a daunting thing to stage under any circumstances, but to do it in four days with a traveling company that sets up shop in a new city whenever it feels like it? That’s approaching insanity, and yet, it’s what Valery Gergiev and his Mariinsky Theatre have been doing lately. Andrew Clarke is impressed with the dedication and effort of all involved, but says that the end result is less than stellar. “Much of the performance looked poorly rehearsed. Singers didn’t react to each other, preferring to follow a basic sequence of moves… With one or two exceptions, the standard of German was lamentable: why doesn’t Gergiev employ a language coach? As for the singing, there was not much of international standard.”

The Florida Orchestra managed to raise 20% of the money it needs for day-to-day operations in 2007 in only a few minutes this week, when a prominent Tampa family foundation kicked in a cool million. The hefty donation comes at an important moment for the orchestra, which recently announced a $677,000 deficit.

There are plenty of contemporary operas these days. But why must new opera be so serious?

Fred Kirshnit embraces the idea of a “Big Five” American orchestras. But his five aren’t the traditional culprits…

Finland is a nation of just 5 million people that gained its independence less than a century ago, and yet its impact on the world of classical music has been growing exponentially in the last few decades. “It didn’t happen by accident, of course. The country has earned its international reputation for music by seriously investing in it. Total spending by the ministry of culture last year amounted to €364 million ($615 million).”

Andreas Delfs has announced that he will depart his post as music director of the Milwaukee Symphony when his newly extended contract expires in 2009. Delfs has led the MSO since 1998, and was also music director of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for several years earlier this decade. His final season in Milwaukee will also be the orchestra’s 50th anniversary year.

To counter the claim, jazz bloggers have been weighing in with lists of what they coinsider classice from the era. And a new 70s jazz canon is being created…