The musicians’ strike at the Madison-based Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra is only getting uglier. “In a volley of press releases, management has blamed musicians for not promising to head back on stage later this month, even though they’ve won numerous concessions over eight months of talks; musicians accuse management of denying them rights that are standard among orchestras across the country.”
Author: sbergman
Lebrecht: Economy May Affect Instrument Availability
A 1741 Guarnerius del Gesu violin is being put up for sale in what Norman Lebrecht calls “a worrying sign of the times.” In the current darkening economic climate, Lebrecht writes that “there will be enough work for good musicians but there will also be a threat to the availability of instruments. Much hinges, in fact, on the fate of the Stoutzker fiddle.”
Giving People Space To Convert Ideas To Inspiration
The IdeaFestival, which has been around since 2000, “brings together creative thinkers from different disciplines to connect ideas in science, the arts, design, business, film, technology and education… Whether it is a festival, a concert, a speech, a convention or a book, creative thinkers say, you have to actively look for inspiration, and that takes time.”
Because Forcing Music On People Always Works Well
Earlier this month, a judge made headlines when she sentenced a young man found to have been playing rap music too loudly to listen to classical music. But what does such a sentence accomplish, other than demeaning both hip-hop and classical? “Classical is considered the ‘civilizing’ music but it also comes off as being imposed on you whether you like or not. Not the best way to get people to appreciate the music.”
Michigan Opera Theatre Cancels Spring Show
“Reacting to economic pressures and fallen ticket sales, Michigan Opera Theatre on Wednesday canceled its scheduled spring production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and announced staff layoffs and other budget cuts. David DiChiera, MOT’s founding general director, said it was the first time in the company’s 38-year history that it had canceled an entire production. He said dropping Pagliacci would save $400,000 to $500,000.”
Philly Overtops Funding Goal, But Still Faces Hard Times
“For years, the Philadelphia Orchestra struggled with financial troubles as the U.S. economy soared. Now, with the economy in critical condition, the orchestra has crossed the finish line in its long endowment campaign having raised more money than expected – only to see this gain withering along with seriously distressed financial markets.”
Getty Acquires Valuable Bronzes, To UK Chagrin
The J. Paul Getty Museum is preparing for the arrival of two bronze casts of a pair of ancient marble sculptures in Florence. “The Getty recently purchased the bronzes for an undisclosed sum from London dealer Daniel Katz, after the British Cultural Ministry’s effort to keep the artworks in England failed to raise the officially recommended price of about $10 million.”
Is Broadway Giving Audiences Too Much Of A Say?
“The latest exhibit in [the] desire to play it safe on Broadway – to ensure that audiences get exactly what they want – is the ghastly audience survey, a little ballot that turns every theatergoer into a junior George Abbott, the legendary director who used to ‘doctor’ his friends’ shows out of town… But let’s be honest: The audience survey is ridiculous. You can’t fine-tune a great musical by pandering to Mr. and Mrs. Great Neck.”
Novelist Scores Trifecta Of Canadian Literary Noms
“Rawi Hage’s Cockroach, already nominated this year for the Scotiabank Giller and the Rogers Writers’ Trust prizes, added a Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction nomination to the list yesterday. It is the only novel in the running for all three of Canada’s top book prizes.”
Empty Chair in T.O. To Mark Absence Of Burmese Poet
“Most featured writers at this year’s International Festival of Authors will spend Toronto’s 29th annual literary happening engaged in readings, panel discussions, book signings and media interviews… Not so Maung Thura, the Burmese poet, activist and comedian better known to his countrymen by the stage name Zargana. Zargana will pass the event in the same way that he has spent much of the past 20 years: imprisoned in a Rangoon cell by the military rulers of Burma.”