Arseny Avraamov's work, written and performed in Baku, Soviet Azerbaijan for the fifth anniversary of the October Revolution, "included the entire Caspian flotilla, cannons, locomotives, artillery regiments, hydroplanes, factory sirens, bells, foghorns, brass bands and a massive choir. Avraamov wasn't just conducting an orchestra, he was conducting a city." - BBC
At the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam last week, members of the activist group Extinction Rebellion interrupted Verdi's Requiem, shouting "We are in the middle of a climate crisis and we are like the orchestra on the Titanic that keeps playing quietly while the ship is already sinking." - Classic FM (UK)
"As the director of the relatively small-scale Regents Opera, I am acutely aware of the risk attached to any attempt on Wagner’s epic saga. Yet, like the lustful dwarf Alberich, so tempted by the Rhinegold that he steals it and forges it into a magic ring, I find myself irresistibly drawn." - The Guardian
Data indicate that interest in classical music itself is growing, but BBC Radio 3, the more populist Classic FM, and newish Scala Radio have lost worryingly large chunks of audience in the past year. But there are good reasons why — and some of those might be fixable. - MSN (The Telegraph)
Stuart Murphy: "We looked at the money. We spoke to people the Arts Council hadn't bothered to speak to in Manchester, from across the opera world, and our staff — and it's just not doable. ... These are skills that can't just be learned in the three years we've been given." - BBC
The Suzuki story turns out to be a fascinating study in the hybrid nature of human culture, tracing a remarkable cross-century triple play—European music to Japanese discipline, ending with a putout at a first base manned by mad American parental ambition. - The New Yorker
The chief executive said the organisation was "completely shocked" by its 100% cut, announced last week as part of the latest round of ACE funding and said he had not seen "any audience need" for opera in Manchester, which was already being served by companies such as Opera North. - The Stage
"(A new) report looks into the hurdles faced by the buzzing-but-fragile music scenes of Nuuk, Greenland and two other far-northern cities: Torshavn in the Faroe Islands and Juneau, Alaska." - Bloomberg CityLab
"I guess because it was no longer about travel. It was about age. It wasn't, 'Will the flight make it safely?' The odds are it will. Will I die? You bet I will." - Van
In London, three of the four non-BBC orchestras had their grants cut, with only the Royal Philharmonic seeing no change. The major orchestras beyond the capital had funding maintained or increased, the Aurora Orchestra got a 53% boost, and grants to the National Youth Orchestra and Choir nearly doubled. - Bachtrack
"Firstly, there is a substantial transfer of funding away from opera (11% down), most of which has gone to dance (12% up). In addition, The Royal Opera, which does both, is 13% down." Two companies which do a lot of regional touring got big cuts; others got small increases. - Bachtrack
The Manchester-based ensemble Psappha and the Cambridge-based Britten Sinfonia were defunded, while the London Sinfonietta and the service organisation Sound and Music saw cuts of one-third or more. Other groups, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Manchester Collective, and the record label NMC, got new or increased funding. - Bachtrack
A first-place trophy at the Mariachi Vegas Extravaganza gives the bands rights to call themselves "national champions." But post-pandemic, whew. It's been a lot of work. - The New York Times
Cellist and composer Mali Obomsawin, a citizen of the Odanak First Nation, found a recording of a first-language speaker and teacher in the archives at Dartmouth. "Our language is so melodic and rhythmic, and it was really fascinating to ... be in conversation with that on my instrument." - NPR
For instance: "For a key scene captured in a single take between Tár and a student in a lecture hall, Winke miked the actors and hid a microphone in the piano. In post, they eliminated body rustles and dips when voices go slightly off-mic." - Los Angeles Times
