November 28, 2022
Sorry, we're late today. We had to spend the morning deleting 4876 Black Friday emails.
It's Monday. Let's get to it.
- The big idea: Choir bans during pandemic flawed, says study
- Orchestra moves: Women now outnumber men in the New York Philharmonic
- Classical reno: Handel's London house gets an overhaul
- Meme of the week
- Around the web: Boston takes vinyl collection online, inside piano photography, Alpaca bodyguards, plus more curious internet finds.
CLASSICAL CHARTS
THE BIG IDEA
Choir bans during pandemic flawed, says study
Widespread reporting on COVID-19 choir outbreaks shown to be based on inaccurate information.
Researchers from England's Brunel University, Nottingham Trent and Brighton Medical School have found that data related to the outbreak from a choir practice in Washington was fundamentally flawed.
The study looked at the details surrounding a church choir practice in Washington state where 53 people developed symptoms of respiratory disease after attending a rehearsal. The review found that infection had occurred two to four days before the practice, demonstrating that symptoms started too early to have been caused by the choir rehearsal.
Domino effect
Media outlets around the world, including Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), cited the study as a reason why choirs should remain closed, even as other live events were given the go-ahead to open.
The effects of the misleading study were particularly devastating to choirs in the UK, where health officials adopted new rules to ensure UK choirs would remain closed for an additional 18 months.
The subsequent public relation nightmare prompted leaders from choral groups across Canada to release an open letter to the public regarding concerns about reopening amid COVID-19. The letter claimed the media reports were "based on out-of-date, insufficiently researched, anecdotal and sensationalist information."
How could this happen?
Professor Robert Dingwall of Nottingham Trent University called the case "…a good illustration of a familiar phenomenon, where an early tentative study gets taken for granted and cited without careful re-evaluation" […] "If policy blunders are to be avoided, there are likely to be many comparable cases out there, and the scientific community needs to find better ways to detect them."
THE LATEST
Violin: Violinist Josef Špaček signs with Intermusica Deutschland
Ideas: Has streaming killed the one-hit wonder?
Auction: Lord of the Rings violin to be auctioned.
Interview: Star soprano Julia Bullock: ‘Music helps you channel emotions in super direct ways’
Editorial: The death of the encore
Update: New details on the upcoming launch of Apple Music Classical
Economy: 90 percent of musicians are worried about affording food due to the cost of living crisis
Controversy: Bob Dylan issues statement over fraudulently signed books
Opera: Dancer suddenly quits Paris Opera
ORCHESTRA MOVES
Women now outnumber men in the New York Philharmonic
For the first time in its 180-year history, women outnumber men 45 to 44 in New York's most renowned orchestra.
Considering it wasn't that long ago that there were no women's dressing rooms at New York Philharmonic's Lincoln Centre, the news establishes the historic orchestra as gender balanced.
What they're saying
- Maestra, a campaign group for women in music and music theatre industries called this "a HUGE moment for female musicians."
- The New York Times described the news as a "sea change".
Timeline
- The first female member of the Philharmonic was harpist Stephanie Goldner, age 26, in 1922
- Double bassist Orin O'Brien joined the orchestra in 1966
- After 1970, the gender imbalance gradually shifted over the ensuing decades
Although true equality has been a long time coming, many pioneering female musicians have made significant breakthroughs with help from the Philharmonic. These artists include violinist Maud Powell and composers Amy Beach and Cécile Chaminade.
CLASSICAL RENO
Handel’s London Home To Get A Facelift
Handel lived at 25 Brook Street from 1723 until his death in 1759. During these 36 years, Handel wrote and rehearsed his greatest works. His coronation anthem Zadok the Priest' was also written in Brook Street. A little over two centuries later, in 1968, Jimi Hendrix moved into an adjoining flat.
The Hallelujah Project…
…will accurately reproduce Handel's subterranean kitchen, complete with original fixtures and fittings.
The project will also include:
- Handel's reception rooms
- Updated ticket and subscription sales offices used by Handel's assistant
- External façade repaired, including Handel's front door
New exhibitions, performances, masterclasses, and private events will be held at Handel & Hendrix in London, with the proceeds going toward the museum's educational initiatives. Additionally, the Hendrix exhibit at 23 Brook Street will be enlarged.
Handel & Hendrix is scheduled to re-open to the public on May 18, 2023 — 300 years after Handel first moved in. Tickets go on sale this March.
AROUND THE WEB
📅 On this day: Composer Jean-Baptiste Lully is born November 28, 1632, Florence, Italy.
📚 Neat: The Boston Public Library’s Vinyl LP Collection, digitized.
🌐 Surprising: Why Japan's internet is so weirdly designed.
👑 Interesting: Gold coin proves 'fake' Roman emperor was real.
🎹 Amazing: The world of inside piano photography
🦙 Who knew?: Alpacas make great bodyguards for turkeys.
MEME OF THE WEEK
How did you like today's email?
Today's email was brought to you by Michael "do be do be do" Vincent.
CONTACT US
