Category: music

“If ratified, the deal technically is a ‘talk-and-play’ agreement. If no other deal is negotiated by June 30, however, the terms of this agreement would extend for three years, through the 2015-16 season.”

“From La Presse‘s Claude Gingras, who knows everything, comes the news – un-denied two days later – that Kent Nagano, the music director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, will leave town when his second contract expires in 2016.”

“Bertinelli came to conducting through a Czech reality show that was a precursor to the later BBC series “Maestro,” in which minor celebrities learn the nuts and bolts of conducting at the hands of a panel of professional musicians. Although she failed to make the top three — the victor was the tennis player Ivan Lendl — Bertinelli discovered a thereto-undreamed-of passion for classical music.”

“The body which collects and distributes song royalties for artists, PRS for Music, has found live music revenue were down by 15% from 2011 to 2012.”

The conductor, who withdrew from a Vienna State Opera productio of Parsifal after opening night’s Act One due to severe back pain and low blood pressure, won’t be returning to the Cleveland Orchestra for next week’s concerts.

“In addition to negotiating with bank lenders concerning $102 million in debt, the Nashville Symphony is facing upcoming negotiations with the Nashville Musicians Association. The symphony’s collective-bargaining agreement with the association expires at the end of July, and the window for negotiation begins in March.”

“El Rass’ signature style is an animated fusion of classical Arabic – an idiom seldom employed in rap – and contemporary wordplay gleaned from the Lebanese streets and elsewhere. … But fans and critics say the complexity and depth of El Rass’ politically and socially charged texts distinguish the rapper, who has played to packed houses in Beirut and Amman.”

“The tour of Germany, Armenia and Russia, announced earlier this year as a “last hurrah” for well-loved Russian principal conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, fell over after an agreement with venues in St Petersburg and Moscow on appearance fees could not be reached.”

“It seemed like donations were cut in half. But when an organization has been going on as long as the Gainesville Symphony (Orchestra) has, it’s hard to just make that quick decision. You want to do everything in your power to keep it going.”