ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

MUSIC

A Strad That Disappeared At The End Of WWII May Have Resurfaced

“The case of the Mendelssohn Stradivarius highlights the opaque trade for rare instruments, in which details about provenance, or the history of previous ownership, are often not well documented or, in some cases, intentionally obscured.” - The New York Times

Recents Faves From The NYT’s Classical Music Writers

Recordings, live performances, and uncovered treasures have them hooked. - The New York Times

The Viola Would Like Your Attention, Please

"Often demoted to an accompanying role in musical textures, the viola’s chronic absence as a solo instrument has meant that violists have had to persuade their contemporaries to write for this unusual instrument.” - The New York Times

Eight Paris Concert Halls Most Classical Fans Never Think Of

You’ve heard of several of them — the Musée d’Orsay, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Les Invalides — but probably had no idea that they host high-level classical concerts. Others probably aren’t on your radar yet, like Bal Blomet and La Scala Paris. - Bachtrack

Neuroscience Researcher On Music As Medicine:

"We now have ample evidence that music can help treat a variety of injuries and diseases, including both mental and physical disorders. And I think the very best case is Parkinson’s disease."

Band Accused Of Being AI After Racking Up 500k Spotify Plays

An account on X has emerged claiming to represent The Velvet Sundown. This account asserts that the band is not at all AI-generated, sharing in their account bio "Yes, We Are A Real Band & We Never Use AI." - PCGamer

Why The Music Industry Seems Better-Defended Against AI

As in other creative industries, AI music tools are poised to hollow out the workaday middle of the market. Even new engineering tools have their downsides. - The Verge

Warner Creates $1+ Billion Fund To Buy Rights To Music Catalogs

Warner Music Group and private investment giant Bain Capital are launching a $1.2 billion joint venture to acquire “legendary” music catalogs across both recorded music and music publishing. - Music Business Worldwide

Warner Music Announces Layoffs, Cuts

In the memo, reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, Kyncl wrote that WMG is looking to reduce costs by about $300 million to “future-proof” the company and “reinvest in the business,” particularly into the music itself. - The Hollywood Reporter

Milwaukee Symphony Musicians Accept New Three-Year Contract With Annual Pay Increases

“The (agreement), which continues through the 2027-28 season, extends a long history of harmonious labor relations at the symphony. For more than 30 years, MSO administration has shared its financial information with musicians.” - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

San Francisco Opera Orchestra Signs Two-Year Contract Which Expires Next Summer

That is to say, the new agreement is retroactive to August 1, 2024, which is when the previous contract expired; the orchestra had been playing under temporary extensions ever since. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

Rising Star Jakub Hrůša Will Be Czech Philharmonic’s Next Chief Conductor

The 43-year-old Hrůša is currently chief conductor of Germany’s Bamberg Symphony; he becomes music director of the Royal Opera House in London this fall. He has been the Czech Philharmonic’s principal guest conductor since 2018; he succeeds Semyon Bychkov as chief in 2028. - AP

Music@Menlo, Silicon Valley’s Chamber Festival, Names Its Next Artistic Directors

Less than a week after founding artistic directors David Finckel and Wu Han announced their 2026 departure, their successors have been revealed. They are longtime Music@Menlo participants Dmitri Atapine and Hyeyeon Park; like Finckel and Wu Han, they are a married cellist-pianist couple. - San Francisco Classical Voice

Pocahontas Came Out Three Decades Ago, But Gen Z Is Making Its Signature Song A Rallying Cry

The movie isn’t seen as progressive, but “on TikTok, people … have reinterpreted the ‘Colors of the Wind’ lyrics to comment on an array of contemporary topics they feel strongly about, like immigration, the Middle East, the president and Elon Musk, Black Lives Matter and oil drilling.” - The New York Times

Transforming A Sports Arena Into A Concert Venue Takes A Steady Hand

“Five times a year, art is sandwiched by science. It typically takes four to five days to transform T-Mobile Park into one of Seattle’s most versatile concert venues, before the bells and whistles are deconstructed in an overnight sprint.” - Seattle Times

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