New York Philharmonic music director Lorin Maazel had plenty to say about his orchestra’s trip to North Korea in the leadup to the controversial performance. Now, after the concert, he remains adamant that the trip was worth it, and says that, “in a way, it was alerting the populace that the party line had changed. Americans are no longer criminals and mad people and fanatic warmongers.”
Tag: 03.15.08
Voigt Sidelined Mid-Performance
Soprano Deborah Voigt had to leave the stage of the Metropolitan Opera midway through the second act of Tristan und Isolde on Friday night due to illness. The performance was halted for about 15 minutes, then continued with Voigt’s understudy in the lead role. Voigt is expected to return for future performances.
This Is Not A Rerun
The management of the 24-member Shreveport Symphony wants to cope with a $500,000 accumulated deficit by converting all of its musicians from full-time employees making a minimum of $12,683 per year to freelancers paid by the service, averaging $3,123 per year. Musicians would also lose their health insurance under the plan.