Archive - October 2009

1
Now that's what I call a union
2
Pianist goes to jail too
3
GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Slatkin's response
4
GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Leonard Slatkin weighs in on booing at the Met
5
GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Thoughts on Baby Einstein, etc
6
More non-rigorous thinking about the arts
7
GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Will Apple Save Classical Music?
8
Chicago Symphony goes to jail
9
The diaspora personified
10
The diaspora personified

Now that's what I call a union

Show business can indeed pay well: After you practice for years and get to Carnegie Hall, it’s almost better to move music stands than actually play the piano. Depending on wattage, a star pianist can receive $20,000 a night at the 118-year-old hall, meaning he or she would have to perform at least 27 times[…]

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Pianist goes to jail too

Performing in prisons has almost graduated to the status of trend: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra guest pianist Simone Dinnerstein plays an usual venue this morning at 11: The Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The world-renowned pianist, who has played Carneige Hall and the Kennedy Center, also will answer questions from inmates/audience members after she performs works[…]

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GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Slatkin's response

Leonard Slatkin responded via email (see yesterday’s blogpost) to my request for information about the article on his website. I have excerpted his comments: “The article was written the day after the Met[‘s recent production of] Tosca was trashed.   How come opera directors can get away with mangling the instructions from a composer, but the[…]

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GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Leonard Slatkin weighs in on booing at the Met

The new Music Director of the Detroit Symphony, Leonard Slatkin, has been having a bit of fun lately. Maybe other orchestras will take up these measures as well, to give audiences an unusual concert-going experience. Tomorrow I’ll post Maestro Slatkin’s comments about his ideas.

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GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Thoughts on Baby Einstein, etc

The question keeps getting asked: should you play music to your unborn child to increase their intelligence? How about tapes of a 2nd language? There’s a whole industry out there that preys upon new parents–if you aren’t doing something for your child, you’re not doing enough. I find it ironic that classical music is often[…]

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More non-rigorous thinking about the arts

This study proves far less than it claims to: In a report to be released on Monday the nonprofit Center for Arts Education found that New York City high schools with the highest graduation rates also offered students the most access to arts education. The report, which analyzed data collected by the city’s Education Department[…]

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GUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Will Apple Save Classical Music?

A few years ago conductor Leonard Slatkin stated that John Williams had saved the orchestra. Why? Because at a time when Broadway shows were moving more and more toward the use of synthesizers and recorded music, Williams was writing film scores for large orchestras. Slatkin maintained that producers (and audiences) having Williams’ sounds in their[…]

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Chicago Symphony goes to jail

…although not for insider note trading, which is not yet illegal. Addressing the annual meeting of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association on Wednesday, [Riccardo Muti] revealed several initiatives he has planned with the orchestra once he settles into his new post in September 2010. And one of them involves at-risk youth. The most innovative is[…]

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The diaspora personified

Nazism was such an evil phenomenon that attributing any positive effects at all to its influence feels morally reckless. But a story like this is a reminder of how much vitality was brought to the classical music scene in North America by Jewish musicians who left Europe to escape war and genocide: A conversation with[…]

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The diaspora personified

Nazism was such an evil phenomenon that attributing any positive effects at all to its influence feels morally reckless. But a story like this is a reminder of how much vitality was brought to the classical music scene in North America by Jewish musicians who left Europe to escape war and genocide: A conversation with[…]

Read More