“Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja was named the winner of the prestigious Recording of the Year for her Naïve album of Bartók’s Violin Concerto No 2, Ligeti’s Violin Concerto and the world premiere of Peter Eötvös’s seven, performed with Ensemble Modern and the Hessen Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eötvös.”
Category: music
Study: Classical Music Makes Men Think Women Are More Attractive
“Recently published research found a relationship between the type of music used on someone’s personal webpage and whether they are seen as attractive by the opposite sex. Men found women more attractive if classical music was playing in the background, but women found men better-looking if their webpage had a heavy-metal soundtrack.”
Signs Of Movement In Minnesota Orchestra Lockout
Musicians’ spokesman Blois Olson: “It appears the other side has returned to the mediator and is again talking to us through the mediator. We had conversations with the mediator today, and it appears that new board members have stepped forward, and we are grateful for that.”
L.A. Philharmonic Players Get 1% Annual Raises In New Contract
“At the end of four years, the minimum yearly wage for the Phil’s more than 100 musicians will be $154,336, up 3.8% from the $148,700 minimum in the contract that expired Sunday. The minimum wage scale had risen 17% over the previous four-year contract.”
Who Has The Bigger Orchestra – Boston Or LA?
“In recent years, the Phil’s annual spending has exceeded the Boston Symphony’s. In the latest round of financial reporting, for the 2011-12 fiscal year, it was no contest. The Angelenos spent $108.4 million to the Bostonians’ $85.8 million. The L.A. operation’s budget was 26% bigger.”
The Oh So Subtle Movie Score, And How It Wacks Out Our Emotions
“We can feel it going into our ears via sound waves and it can produce all sorts of physical responses, including in the right circumstances an actual thud to the stomach.”
This Is A Crucial Weekend For The Minnesota Orchestra
“The pressure to reach a deal to the nearly year-long lockout is intense this weekend because of a series of deadlines leading to scheduled performances this November at Carnegie Hall.” But the sides haven’t reached any kind of agreement at all.
Here’s One Major Orchestra That Isn’t Hurting
The L.A. Philharmonic posted a surplus for the 10th time in 11 years, and paid both its music director and its CEO well over $1 million apiece.
And Here’s Another Successful Orchestra (In A Much More Challenged City)
“Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians ratified a new three-year contract Friday that will include the restoration of salary cuts that were made in the wake of the economic downturn.”
Let’s Be Clear About What NYC Opera Has Become
“Mr. Steel did what he thought he had to do, and he may well have been right–but for better or worse, his New York City Opera is now a thing unto itself, one whose success or failure will have nothing to do with the company’s celebrated past. It’s his baby now.”