Venerable Philadelphia concert hall may be on the block as Philadelphia Orchestra struggles to raise remaining $25 million for its new home. – Philadelphia Inquirer
AND: Philadelphia Orchestra’s new home now under construction – a wildly ambitious plan with technical bells and whistles that rival any performance space in the country.
And:What about the acoustics? Philadelphia Inquirer 11/21/99
Category: music
EIGHT AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS ARE LOOKING –
– for music directors. Never a better time to be a maestro. – Chicago Tribune
NEW BATON
Compared to choosing a new music director for a major orchestra, electing a pope is a public process. For the first time in 25 years, the Boston Symphony looks for a new leader. – Boston Globe
JAZZ IN NEW YORK
Still alive and healthy but, says pianist Renee Rosnes, there are fewer jazz sessions and lot less camaraderie between musicians. – Irish Times
A “LA BOHEME”-LED RECOVERY
More than $4.5 million in debt two years ago, Opera Australia embarked on a “populist” season. It seems to have paid off. – Sydney Morning Herald
RADIO CITY MUSICIANS –
– vote to strike – CBC
AND: Backstage story 11/18/99
“NO MISMANAGEMENT HERE”
Scottish Opera bosses, called up by the Scottish Parliament to defend themselves after being bailed out of looming bankruptcy last week, say lavish production hurt but was not extravagant. – BBC
PERLMAN ON THE PODIUM
First half of concert conductor Itzhak Perlman had the Detroit Symphony sounding “like a mediocre college orchestra.” But the second produced “one of the finest performances of Dvorak” this Detroit critic ever heard. – Detroit News
MADE IN AMERICA
Critic takes a listen to New York Philharmonic’s new multi-disc salute to American music and, harkening back to debate from earlier this century, wonders if American music is worth it. There’s a “paucity of great music,” he finds. – National Review
AND: Washington Post‘s Jonathan Yardley responds to critic’s “misunderstanding of American music.” Washington Post 11/15/99
AND: New York Times review of series
OPERA IN THE PARK
Reviews are in on the Wendy Wasserstein/A. R. Gurney/Terrence McNally opera collaboration. An “exceedingly modest entertainment.” – New York Times