Category: music

Musicians of the Boston Pops orchestra are angry because conductor Keith Lockhart cut chunks of Mozart’s Synphonia Concertante so it would fit the timeframe of a concert. ”The mission of the Pops is not to present Urtext editions, but to present the audience with as wide a range of quality musical experiences as possible in a single concert,” says Lockhart. – Boston Globe

“The proposed settlement calls for San Diego-based MP3.com to pay $75 million to $100 million to the Recording Industry Association of America, the trade group representing the labels, in exchange for the right to use the labels’ songs as part of the My.MP3.com service.” – Boston Globe

UK music retailers urged the nation’s leading record labels last month to release this fall’s new albums earlier than scheduled – out of fear that the British public is choosing to spend their leisure time and leisure pounds on DVDs and computer games instead of music. – The Herald (Glasgow)

Neeme Järvi and his sons Paavo and Kristjan are founding something of a family dynasty – all three Estonian conductors are now music directors of American orchestras. – The Age (Melbourne) (AP)

With succession in the air, the Wagner dynasty at Bayreuth is under siege – by other Wagners. – The Guardian

Emil Kang, 31 will be youngest executive director of a major American orchestra. – Detroit Free Press

Pianist Glenn Gould was renowned both for his talent and for his eccentric performance habits, which included rocking back and forth, humming loudly, and conducting to himself during concerts. Now the director of the music division at Canada’s National Library says evidence shows Gould suffered from Asperger’s syndrome, a kind of autism. “I went ‘Bingo.’ I’d suspected for a long time that this was more than just a weirdo.” – Yahoo (Reuters)

Be-bop, fusion, improv, stride – what exactly is jazz?  The Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival in New York looks for answers through programs all week with an inspiring array of players. – Salon

It’s the “National” Symphony but the “Washington” Opera. Why doesn’t America have a “national” opera company, since almost everywhere else does? So Congress is looking into a name change. – Washington Post

Wolfgang Sawallisch may be on his way out as director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, but he’s got a remarkable thing going in Philadelphia. “Although orchestra players traditionally complain about anyone who wields a baton, Sawallisch seems to inspire consistent affection from the orchestra, even amid observations that age has robbed his baton technique of some precision. But the mind behind the technique has gained precision.” – Philadelphia Inquirer