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In this week’s email:
CLASSICAL CHARTZ Weekly selections are based on sales numbers and albums we simply love and think you NEED to hear! For the complete top 20, tune into Classical Chartz with the New Classical FM’s Mark Wigmore every Saturday from 3-5 pm EST! THE BIG IDEA Arts Council England Takes Aim at Opera (Again)Once revered as the pinnacle of cultural sophistication, opera now sits in the crosshairs of Arts Council England (ACE), calling into question the relevance of a genre steeped in history. This comes on the heels of ACE's new report that follows its controversial stance in 2022, criticizing the dominance of century-old operas in today's repertoire. Opera under scrutiny
Anti-elitist perspectiveACE's report indicates a push for modernity, suggesting that reliance on traditional opera signifies a lack of creativity. It’s also true that only a few large companies use the majority of the subsidy, making it difficult for small organizations actually producing new operas to compete. However, they face criticism for what some see as an anti-elitist attitude toward historical works and the experts who appreciate them. Opera's core audienceDespite debates over its relevance, opera maintains a steady fan base that prefers traditional operas from the canon over contemporary operas. The argument seems unfair in the face of theatre, where companies like the Royal Shakespeare Company focus on plays from authors even more "offensively dead than Verdi”. Responding to the challenge
The big questionAs the debate rages, the question remains: do we allow older canonical works to dominate the stages, or should funding bodies force companies to produce new works which represent today's diverse cultural landscape? — MV TOUR DE HEADLINES Péter Eötvös (Szilvia Czibi/ Müpa Budapest) Obituary: Legendary Composer Péter Eötvös Dies at 80 — Hungarian composer and conductor Péter Eötvös, celebrated for his significant contributions to contemporary music and education, passed away at 80 after battling a long-term illness. | OperaWire Maurizio Pollini Obituary — Renowned Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini, celebrated for his intellectual approach to music and winner of the Chopin competition at 19, has passed away at 82. | The Guardian Michael Tilson Thomas to Conduct NY Phil's Opening Subscription Concert — Michael Tilson Thomas, despite health challenges, will conduct the New York Philharmonic's opening subscription concert for the 2024/25 season, featuring works by Mozart and Mahler. | The Violin Channel Cypress Hill Announces Show With London Symphony Orchestra, Fulfilling Yet Another ‘Simpsons’ Prediction — Cypress Hill has announced a concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at London's Royal Albert Hall on July 10, a unique event that was humorously predicted by "The Simpsons" in a 1996 episode. | LivefortheMusic
PIANO Yuja Wang (Photo: Kirk Edwards) Yuja Wang Named Artist-in-Residence with New York PhilharmonicOn March 19th, the New York Philharmonic announced their 2024/2025 season. The announcement included news that the superstar Chinese pianist Yuja Wang will be the orchestra’s 2024/2025 artist-in-residence. The scoop: Yuja Wang will lead the New York Phil from the piano in works by Janáček, Stravinsky, and Gershwin. She will also play both Ravel piano concerti in one concert conducted by the orchestra’s future music director, Gustavo Dudamel. Catch-up: The 37-year-old pianist Yuja Wang was born in Beijing and studied at the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Her big break came
when she stepped in for Martha Argerich as soloist with the Boston Symphony in 2007. Wang has since performed worldwide with leading orchestras and conductors and records exclusively with Deutsche Grammophon. Her appointment with the New York Phil comes hot off the heels of her first Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for her album The American Project with conductor Teddy Abrams. ORCHESTRA San Francisco Symphony (Photo: Kristen Loken) San Francisco Symphony Musicians Fight to Keep Esa-Pekka SalonenAfter Esa-Pekka Salonen announced his resignation as music director of the San Francisco Symphony last week, the SFO’s musicians are publicly fighting to keep him. When the San Francisco Symphony announced
its season last week, its visionary music director Esa-Pekka Salonen simultaneously announced his resignation. Salonen cited a lack of a shared vision with the Board of Directors, who have made extensive cuts to performances and educational programs, cancelled a European tour and refused to restore musicians’ salaries to pre-pandemic levels.The San Francisco Symphony Musicians Group released a statement calling Salonen’s departure not only a great loss for their organization, but for San Francisco as a city and
community. QUIZ Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword. AROUND THE WEB 📅 On this day: Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945) was born. 🇬 Fun: In this word game, you rearrange rows of letters to create words until every letter is utilized. 🎵 Relax: Take some time to wander around this digital ambient music garden. 👨✈️ Interesting: Take a deep dive on the Red Baron. LAUGH OF THE WEEK How did you like today's email? |