“Freed from the anguish of choosing, music listeners can discover all kinds of weird, nettlesome, unpleasant, sublime, sweet, or perplexing musical paths. These paths branch off constantly, so that by the end of a night that started with the Specials, you’re listening to Górecki’s Miserere, not by throwing a dart, but by following the quite specific imperatives of each moment’s needs, each instant’s curiosities.”
Category: music
Gary Numan: The Old Music Business Sucked. We Need This Revolution!
“There are a lot of people who are really frightened about what’s going on at the moment. I’m the opposite. I think it’s an amazing time. It’s a golden era for bands. You’ve just got to be aware. You’ve got to be savvy with the technology that’s coming and adapt it to you, or you to it, whatever it might be. I’m optimistic, because I’m sure there are other things coming that are going to be really useful. But most of it involves direct access to fans.”
What Happens When A Mathematician Sets Out To Create The ‘Ugliest Piece Of Music Ever Written’?
Well, this particular mathematician, Scott Rickard, started with the premise (which he attributed to “most musicologists”) that “repetition is a key aspect of beauty.” Then, as he explains in this 2011 TED talk, he employed the math behind sonar pings to create a work employing all 88 notes on the piano keyboard and avoiding any sort of repetition. (video)
Seiji Ozawa Cancels His Tanglewood Concerts, Citing Poor Health
“The former Boston Symphony Orchestra music director” – now 80 and a survivor of esophageal cancer – “had been scheduled to conduct the ensemble for the first time since 2008, but doctors have now recommended otherwise.”
More Young Classical Musicians Are Rocking Out In Crossover Bands
Classical crossover is hardly new, but groups like Apocalyptica, the Piano Guys, and 2Cellos are taking a harder, more rock-oriented approach than, say, André Rieu or Vanessa-Mae ever did. They’re also acquiring some serious fans and social media mojo.
Lebrecht: What Ails The Metropolitan Opera (And Why)
Norman Lebrecht: “Twenty years ago, the Met was running at 90 per cent. Twenty years earlier, you could not buy or beg a seat most nights, such was the crush of seasonal subscribers and the force of their loyalty. So what has gone wrong? And, critically — for this is a crisis — what can be done about it?”
The Future Of Music Is Streaming. Or So We Thought?
“A YouGov survey last week produced the interesting statistic that only 6 per cent of 35-55 year olds subscribe to a music streaming service. As you’d expect, 16 per cent of 14-34 year olds have subscriptions, and only 3 per cent of those over 55 are signed up. Still, that Gen X figure sticks out a little. The reasons put forward for disliking streaming include complexity of existing services, the subscription angle, and the fact that CDs and radio are easier to use.”
Paris Opera Chief Says This Season Has Been Disastrous, Pleads With Staff Not To Strike
In a letter to company employees revealing that they won’t be receiving incentive bonuses for the previous season, general director Stéphane Lissner lists the problems: revenue off €2 million since the beginning of 2016; plunging ticket sales (reportedly down by €5 million), due partly to the terrorist attacks; performances cancelled due to demonstrations by the intermittents … (in French; Google Translate version here)
Detroit Symphony’s EVP Leaves For Cleveland Institute Of Music
“Paul Hogle, executive vice president of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 2010 and a key architect of the organization’s post-strike resurrection, is leaving to become president of the Cleveland Institute of Music. … Hogle, who grew up near Cleveland and saw one of his daughters, a violist, graduate from CIM last year, ends his six-year tenure in Detroit in early July.”
Skylight Music Theater In Milwaukee Loses Its Artistic Director
Viswa Subbaraman, who began his three-season tenure at Skylight with a daring Bollywood-themed Fidelio, said, “I’ve been wrestling with this for a few months. I love the work here and the Skylight, but I am convinced that my greatest joy and greatest strength is on the podium.”