Category: music

“When Osmo Vanska says that within a few years, the Minnesota Symphony will be one of the best orchestras in the United States, right up there alongside the Chicago Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra, you’re inclined to believe him. He says it in such a matter-of-fact way that it never for a moment sounds like boasting and, more importantly, he does have the track record to back up his claim, having taken a run-of-the-mill municipal orchestra in Finland, the Lahti Symphony, and, in less than two decades, transformed it into one of the most distinctive bands in Europe.”

Independent music labels are complaining that a plan to include downloads in UK Top 40 singles charts is unfair to indies. “A large chunk of the independent community are concerned about the way the chart has been thrust on us and the fact that most indie labels are unable to get their music into i-Tunes, which is unfairness from the off.” Some indie reps say they’ll game the new downloads system in protest.

“All four of Kent Nagano’s first concerts with the Montreal Symphony since he accepted his new job were sold out, and the overwhelming consensus was that the 53-year-old American has what it takes to revive the OSM’s artistic fortunes. He launched a new composition prize, charmed the public with interviews and comments from the stage, and helped the orchestra sound at least as good as it did during its glory years with Charles Dutoit.” But a bitter contract negotiation with musicians is a black cloud…

Eleven full-time Lyric Opera of Chicago staff members will be out of a job when the company’s new fiscal year begins May 1. On Wednesday, Lyric announced administrative staff reductions of 8.4 percent, and William Mason, general director, estimates that the cuts will save $700,000 in 2005-06.

Is there a glass ceiling for women conductors? Marin Alsop: “I don’t know if it’s a glass ceiling, or a concrete or a fabric one, but it’s definitely a ceiling. I’m very proud that I’m to become the first woman conductor in history to lead the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (of Amsterdam), but I’m also appalled. It’s sort of surprising that one can still be the first woman in so many areas — in the 21st century.”

The Paris Opera is doing a radical rethink of Wagner’sTristan und Isolde. The company has commissioned video artist Bill Viola to accompany its new production. “On a 30-foot-wide screen above and behind the somberly lighted space peopled by the singers, images that recall some of Mr. Viola’s well-known video pieces variously offer literal, metaphorical and even spiritual complements to one of mythology’s most famous and tragic love stories. With only the preludes played to a closed curtain, Mr. Viola’s multi-toned video poem runs for some 3 hours 40 minutes, a full-length spectacle in its own right.”

“MP3 bloggers, as they are known, are people who hunt down and post musical gems — usually hard-to-find or niche MP3s — for others to discuss and, for a limited time, download.” They’re getting an audience, and it’s growing. But legally are such blogs going to pass muster?

Thirty-five pianists have been chosen for the Cleveland International Piano Competition. “The pianists – 11 women and 24 men – hail from 17 countries: China (seven), the United States (five), Russia (four), Japan (three), Bulgaria (two), France (two), South Korea (two), Australia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia. The competition’s new screening process began with 243 hopefuls from 43 countries. After viewing applications, competition officials invited 143 pianists to tape videos in Cleveland, Akron, New York, Tokyo, Munich or London.”

Recent cases concerning the release of older recordings and the editing of ancient music have thrown the ownership of our musical heritage in danger. “Hardly a month passes without someone in a black gown having to lay down the law on matters so fluid they might be more fittingly served in a saloon bar. At stake is our access to musical heritage and unless some judge draws a line in the sand pretty soon we could all go blundering back to ignorance and deprivation.”

The businessman who abruptly quit as president of the La Scala orchestra Monday has said he was disgusted with the opera house’s unions. “Fedele Confalonieri, chairman of the Mediaset media conglomerate, also said the company might withdraw its financing of the orchestra. In an interview at Mediaset’s Rome offices, Mr. Confalonieri said the company had paid at least $700,000 a year for Sunday-morning concert broadcasts on one of its channels.”