Category: music

Given the precarious state of classical music in the market-place, you might think orchestras would exercise some caution in the matter of remuneration. But instead of asking “what can we afford?”, the instinct of players and management is to cast envious glances at their peers among the top-tier orchestras, and ask “are they richer than us?”

“One of the most influential offstage figures in the New York arts world is stepping down. Joseph W. Polisi, who transformed the Juilliard School during three decades as its president, announced on Wednesday that he plans to leave the post in June 2018.”

“When the old Orchestra London’s finances collapsed, its musicians continued to play on in large and small groups. After several variations, the musicians settled on #WePlayOn as a temporary name. Now, a permanent ID is being sought.”

What comes to mind when I describe the character of Chicago new music are words like “provisional” and “transient”and “conditional” and “contingent” and “fragmented.”

“The four-alarm fire that rampaged through the roof of the historic First Congregational Church in Berkeley … is a disaster on several levels, not least for small arts organizations that have depended on the church as a performance venue. Groups such as Volti, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra all use the space, as well as Cal Performances.”

“Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra fanned out across the region Tuesday, chatting up fans, playing in string quartets and wind quintets, and doing a little damage control.”

That’s pretty much the tenor of this essay by Rob Buscher, Festival Director of the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, on the blog of Opera Philadelphia, which just completed a run of Puccini’s final work.

“For listeners, there’s more music to hear than ever before–and it’s happening all over the world. Of course, it always has, but nowadays, it’s not limited to “national” “styles.” Also, global travel has become much more convenient, relatively speaking, and so with enough time, money, and overzealousness, a fanatical fan could actually trek the globe to hear extremely exciting music every day of the year. Much easier, we now can also experience a great deal of music happening in all these places without leaving our homes.”

“The PSO announced Monday that it has canceled concerts scheduled between now through Oct. 27 in response to the strike.”