Category - Miscellaneous

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MacArthur whiffs again
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The San Francisco Story
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Louisville managemen set to make two more bad decisions
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Put things in your ears you should
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American Orchestras: Endangered Species?
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What a difference a week makes
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An unusual source for replacement workers
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Louisville CEO surprised that AFM will support picket line
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Louisville management arms Tsar Bomba
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Reason not the need

MacArthur whiffs again

There’s an old saying in our business that contains a great deal of truth: The only thing you need to know about competitions is that Mozart never won one. I remembered it this morning when I read of the latest winners of the MacArthur Fellows (better known as recipients of “Genuis Grants”). It was an[…]

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The San Francisco Story

San Francisco Classical Voice, the online publication covering  the Bay Area classical music scene, has a fascinating article on how the San Francisco Symphony became a powerhouse: With the opening of Davies Symphony Hall 30 years ago, the San Francisco Symphony marked the beginning of a well-planned and brilliantly executed ascendancy into the elite rank[…]

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Louisville managemen set to make two more bad decisions

According to WFPL, the management of the Louisville Orchestra has two more chances to screw things up this week: After months of talks with no agreement, Mayor Greg Fischer joined contract negotiations with the management and musicians. Last week, he announced that an anonymous donor had come forward to pay for a nationally-recognized consultant to[…]

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Put things in your ears you should

… at least according to the BBC: The BBC has published a report warning the musicians in its five orchestras that they are at risk from damaging their hearing. The 48-page report, written by the BBC’s safety manager, includes a number of recommendations for players who want to protect themselves against noise while rehearsing or performing.[…]

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What a difference a week makes

Last week, the Kentucky Opera seemed very interested in having an orchestra in the pit for its upcoming production of Carmen: The opera’s general director, David Roth, said opera administration is talking with the local branch of the musicians union, American Federation of Musicians Local 11-637, so that it can contract its members to perform[…]

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An unusual source for replacement workers

It’s not surprising, in the wake of the Louisville Orchestra management’s cancellation of most orchestral activities scheduled for September and October, that the Kentucky Opera, which uses the Louisville Orchestra, would be looking for musicians to replace LO musicians. Their choice of partner, on the other hand, is straight from the Twilight Zone: The opera’s[…]

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Louisville CEO surprised that AFM will support picket line

…or so yesterday’s article in the Louisville Courier-Journal would suggest: The Louisville Orchestra has cancelled its September and October concerts because of the ongoing contract dispute with musicians, particularly their New York-based union’s threat to fine those who show up for work. “While we believe that local musicians wish to perform, the musicians’ bargaining unit[…]

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Louisville management arms Tsar Bomba

The largest man-made explosion in history occurred on October 31, 1961, when a Soviet bomber dropped a thermonuclear device yielding 50 or so megatons on the Mitysushika Bay testing range in the Soviet Artic. The device, known as Tsar Bomba, was actually capable of twice that power. The fireball and blast wave could be seen[…]

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Reason not the need

The Armory in NYC (on Park and 66th) was new to me.  It’s an imposing if ugly building with unimaginative use of brickwork and little sense of outward style… it’s an Armory.  Inside it’s huge and cavernous with dark wood paneling and creaky floors. Inside the Armory Then there is the Drill Hall which is[…]

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