Category: music

“For some reason, it’s taking a lot longer than in literature and the visual arts to reach equilibrium. It was deemed (just about) acceptable by the 19th century for female writers to be published, yet it’s only in the last couple of decades that female composers have really emerged, blinking, out of their garrets and into publishing houses and record label offices; so, without a little helping hand, there might be a long way to go yet. So wherefore the imbalance?”

“Orchestra Victoria spends most of its time in the pit at the State Theatre supporting performances of the national ballet and opera companies. But after a year marked by tense industrial negotiations and uncertainty about its future, the orchestra has announced a program designed to raise its profile around the state.”

“It’s hard to overstate the importance of new musical instruments in history. The piano’s dynamic range allowed for a subtlety in composition previously unimagined. The modern drum set paved the way for jazz. Rock and roll would not have happened without the electric guitar. … So what happened? Why has there been such a drought of [successful] new instruments – especially in rock and pop, which thrive on novelty?”

A retired Chicago Public School teacher gets feisty after being robbed of a classical music cruise

“A startup called SonicNotify embeds inaudibly high-pitched audio signals within music or any other audio track. When a compatible app hears that signal, it triggers any available smartphone function to link you to websites, display text, bring up map locations, display a photo, let you vote on which song a performer plays next and so on.”

“San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti has been appointed music director of Teatro di San Carlo of Naples, Italy, effective immediately. … Founded in 1737, San Carlo is the oldest continuously active theater in Europe, and one of Italy’s most prestigious opera houses, famous for its beauty and acoustics.”

“Brits made up 56 of the top 100 biggest-selling album artists, including acts as varied as Plan B, The Vaccines, Kasabian and actor Hugh Laurie with his blues album. US artists represented almost a third of sales, the lowest share since 1999, but accounting for the second biggest share of acts. Canada was third while Barbados was fourth, solely on the back of Rihanna’s success.”

“The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment – where I’m joint leader – are mid-way through something a little unusual. We’re out on the road on tour, but rather than concert halls, our venues are London pubs. Our aim is to put the social back into music.”

Alan Fletcher “not only survived those setbacks, he has made a big comeback. The festival’s board has voted him a five-year contract extension, which will keep him as the organization’s administrative leader through Dec. 31, 2016.”

“Simon Crookall’s abrupt departure Thursday from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra was entirely voluntary, the organization insists.” Board chairman John R. Thornburgh “denied that the board had investigated Crookall’s behavior in either his job or his private life.”