“The alchemy of the transformation began with a gradual relinquishment of autonomy, especially stark in Berlin. The Berlin Philharmonic, nationalized into a state-owned company in January 1934 under Joseph Goebbels’ Ministry of Propaganda, began to perform in the old Philharmonie on Bernburger Straße under an immense swastika. It was now expected to render service to “the German cause.” (Even Goebbels did not speak of “Nazi music” but of “German music.”) Goebbels, who began to call it “my orchestra,” increased its subsidies and its musicians’ salaries and personally signed letters of exemption from military service for its members.”
Category: music
Houston’s ‘Nixon In China’ Accused Of Yellowface
The complaints about Houston Grand Opera’s current run of the John Adams opera include the casting of white singers as Chinese characters as well as caricatured stereotypes in Nixon‘s version of The Red Detachment of Women (an actual Communist propaganda ballet that uses caricatured stereotypes).
‘Minstrel Show’: Houston Chronicle Rips ‘Nixon In China’ For ‘Demeaning Treatment Of Chinese Culture’
“Instead of presenting Asians as human beings, we are offered a world of lazy stereotypes”, writes staff theater and opera critic Wei-Huan Chen about the opera’s version of the old Cultural Revolution ballet The Red Detachment of Women, “a representation of Asian people so nostalgic, so inaccurate and so out of touch with the way we talk about and view race in modern times that it at first evokes more confusion than disgust.” (That’s arguably a fair description of the original Red Detachment.)
Has South Korea’s Leading Soprano, Sumi Jo, Been Blacklisted By China?
A coloratura who’s had a big international career (including numerous appearances in China) for 30 years, Jo had been planning to appear with three of the country’s major orchestras next month; over the weekend, all three orchestras announced that she had been “forced to withdraw.” Other South Korean musicians have had performances in China cancelled as well, and they fear that it’s because of tension between Seoul and Beijing over a missile system.
Dozens Of London Live Music Venues Have Closed In The Past Decade. But What About Those That Are Thriving?
“You create a green scene of local bands who breed. They become fond of the venue because you give them support and, even if they grow, they’ll come back and play smaller shows here.”
Matthew VanBesien To Leave The New York Philharmonic
Matthew VanBesien, 47, who has been with the Philharmonic for nearly five years, has said “he will leave to become the president of the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, a respected campus-affiliated arts presenter. His decision to step down before his contract is up in 2018 leaves the Philharmonic with vacancies in its top managerial and artistic ranks as it prepares to face its biggest challenge in decades. The turnover at the orchestra is staggering, which threatens to make the planning process more chaotic, and give potential donors pause.”
Tenor Storms Stage To Demand Payment From Deadbeat Producer
Crossover tenor Jonathan Ansell says he tried for months to get from producer Stephen Leatherland the £10,000 Ansell says he’s owed for a 2015 UK tour of an opera revue. Fed up, he leapt onto the stage just before the beginning of another Leatherland production and told the audience that he and other cast members had been stiffed. Naturally, he streamed the whole thing on Facebook Live. (includes video)
Another Instrument Smashed Up By Airlines – This Time It’s A Cello
The unfortunate victim this time is Florida State cello major Carrie Miller, whom United Airlines did not permit to gate-check her cello for a flight from California back to Tallahassee. She’s trying to crowd-fund a replacement instrument so she can prepare for her senior recital, coming in less than three months.
Is There A Business In Music Written By Artificial Intelligence?
Several start-ups are now trying to commercialize A.I. music for everything from jingles to potential pop hits. Jukedeck, for instance, is looking to sell tracks to anyone who needs background music for videos, games or commercials.
For A Decade The Number Of Live Music Venues In London Has Been Declining – Until This Year
“The London Music Board report shows that 94 venues currently operate in the capital – the same as in 2015, but down from 144 in 2007. Previous reports had claimed there were 88 venues operating in 2015, but this number was increased after a small number of venues were re-categorised as grassroots music venues in a recent mapping process.”