"Peter Gelb is telegraphing to composers that stylistic conformity within the boundaries of a populist musical means is the only possible route to success in New York, offering rewards in exchange for lack of risk. This mindset would be unthinkable in any other discipline." - Van
Performing without sheet music is the hallmark of the Aurora Orchestra, a British ensemble directed by Nicholas Collon. "People used to say to me, jokingly: 'What next from memory? The Rite of Spring?' And here I am writing this at the end of our final day of rehearsals." - The Guardian
"I was learning from them, because a good conductor – and I don’t know if I am a good conductor – but a conductor who is wise knows that he can learn from an orchestra." - BachTrack
This new data comes from a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra study. A previous survey from 2018 found that 79 percent of the population was interested in seeing an orchestra live. “Our latest data suggests the audience for live orchestral performance has grown over the last five years." - ClassicFM
After making headlines worldwide by punching a bass soloist after a performance last week, the conductor says, "I am taking a step back in order to get the specialist help I recognise that I have needed for some time." His ensembles "will now continue (their) programme without him." - MSN (The Telegraph)
"Replace charismatic leadership with technocratic good manners and the whole edifice comes tumbling down," wrote one London critic. Responds Michael Brodeur, "This brings us to the myth of the bully maestro, which isn't really a myth so much as a problem we've worked diligently for decades to mythologize." - MSN (The Washington Post)
The weeks of core classical programming will be reduced, 15% of administrative staff jobs will be eliminated, remaining staff are getting mandatory furloughs, and senior executives will take salary cuts. - NJ.com
Since NewMusicBox launched in May 1999, it has published in-depth interviews Oteri conducted with many of America’s most significant musical creators of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including Elliott Carter, Ornette Coleman, Meredith Monk, Tania León, Willie Colón, Du Yun, and Jeanine Tesori. - NewMusicUSA
A paradox is operating here: why would such an influential visionary and radical creator as Schoenberg receive minimal attention and performances of his masterworks today? - LA Review of Books
Vicente Lusitano had been dimly remembered, largely by music historians, for "a notorious dispute which he won, then lost, but is now winning again." Scholar Garrett Schuman explains what's now known about Lusitano, why he fell into obscurity, and the revival of his (often gorgeous) works this decade. - Early Music America
After audience travel, by far the largest source of emissions is food and drink, which on average accounts for just over 34%. This is significantly reduced at events that have adopted plant-based policies. - Complete Music Update
Replace charismatic leadership with technocratic good manners and the whole edifice comes tumbling down. Fine by me, but just beware of what this means. Fewer recordings, fewer concerts, fewer subsidies, fewer jobs. - The Spectator
"What Vivek is doing is trying to align himself with the struggle of overcoming adversity. From what I know of Vivek's policies, objectives and goals, they're not in alignment with Eminem at all." - BBC
He became director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela when he was 18, and he's known many of the players since they were all children enrolled in El Sistema. Yet, until this past Saturday at the Edinburgh International Festival, he hadn't conducted them since 2017. - The New York Times
