Category: music

America’s oldest orchestra had the development and promotion of American music as part of its founding mission. Yet, in its first 11 seasons, it played two American works, both composed by its own concertmaster. Then, in 1853, a British orchestra and a French conductor went on a months-long tour of the U.S., commissioning and performing American music the entire time (including William Henry Fry’s Santa Claus Symphony). Musicologist Doug Shadle recounts the ruckus that ensued. – The New York Times

They’ll take place in an empty venue, though — the Wigmore Hall, where such artists as Stephen Hough, Angela Hewitt, Iestyn Davies, Mark Padmore and Mitsuko Uchida will perform for BBC Radio 3. “Twenty hour-long concerts featuring soloists or duos will take place at 1pm each weekday throughout June and will be livestreamed on [Wigmore’s] website and broadcast on Radio 3 and BBC Sounds.” – The Guardian

Alex Ross: “Other pianists of Levit’s generation may have achieved wider mass-market fame—Lang Lang and Yuja Wang come first to mind—but none have comparable stature as a cultural or even a political figure. In German-speaking countries, Levit is a familiar face not only to classical-music fans but also to a broader population that shares his leftist, internationalist world view. He has appeared on mainstream German TV shows; participated in political panel discussions; and attended the annual gathering of the Green Party.” – The New Yorker

In July, the Rome Opera will stage Verdi’s Rigoletto, conducted by Daniele Gatti, in the Piazza di Siena, a venue on the grounds of the Villa Borghese normally used for equestrian events. Audience numbers will be capped at 1,000 (in a facility that normally holds several times that number), with all social distancing regulations followed. – Wanted in Rome

Of the chorus of 130, 102 were diagnosed with the virus. – Diapason

The campaign calls for solutions to the problems that the lockdown has inflicted on musicians. The suspension of live music under lockdown has cut off most artists’ one dependable source of income: gigs. And payments from streaming services such as Spotify are so negligible that they cannot hope to fill the massive hole in artists’ incomes. – The Guardian

What if concerts were announced one or two at a time, just a week or two in advance? The tickets would be sold per concert, not per season, and the marketing would be heavy on social media. Concert programs could be designed to attract different communities in the county, rather than the monolithic subscription crowd. What’s more, it would allow the groups to perform exactly when circumstances allowed, rather than cancel concerts when they didn’t. – Voice of Orange County

Idea originator Emily Levin: “Preparing and recording a video was already a large time commitment. I expected my colleagues to simply send me their recordings. That’s not what happened. Instead, the string players worked together to coordinate their bowings. The woodwinds came up with recording systems that allowed them to tune to one another. Players recorded multiple takes and created videos of the highest musical and technical quality. They went to extraordinary lengths to make the project a success.” – Dallas Morning News

Sir Thomas Beecham used to say that there are no good or bad orchestras, only good or bad conductors, and to an extent he has a point. – Toronto Star