April 29, 2024

Stephen Sondheim's quaint little Connecticut retreat finally snagged a buyer willing to shell out the whopping $3.25 million asking price. Sondheim bought the house at the height of his fame in 1984.

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In this week’s email:

The big idea: Demand for mental health support soars in performing arts sector
Industry: UK music festivals can no longer afford the Cleveland Orchestra
Voice: Countertenor takes the reins at Opera Philadelphia
Laugh of the week
Around the web: The psychology behind why video game farming, a cat bunk bed, a guide to mastering your sleep schedule, plus more curious internet finds.

CLASSICAL CHARTZ

Weekly selections are based on sales numbers and albums we simply love and think you NEED to hear!

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THE BIG IDEA

Sir Andrew Davis (Photo courtesy of the BBC Symphony Orchestra)

Demand for Mental Health Support Soars in Performing Arts Sector

Demand for medical consultations at the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) has increased by 86% since 2019.

The last decade has seen a fourfold increase in patient numbers, reaching 2,850 in 2023, with a focus on treatments for physical injuries and mental health issues, both of which have become more prevalent since the start of the pandemic.

Claire Cordeaux, CEO, BAPAM, said: “The past five years have been destabilizing and challenging for performers and gig economy professionals, with pressures heightened by the continued cost of living and housing crises. As a result, BAPAM has seen a surge in demand for our clinical services, particularly in mental health. We know this situation can be improved and that, by working together with industry, we can foster a better culture of wellbeing within the performing arts to reduce high levels of poor health and enable performers to thrive.”

Marking its 40th year, BAPAM continues to be a pivotal provider of clinical services to the UK's performing arts community, evident by over 7,200 psychotherapy sessions in the last year alone, addressing the mental health of performers.

There has also been a significant rise in vocal health cases, now accounting for 15% of BAPAM's consultations in 2023, which has led to an expansion of their resources. The increasing demand for these services reflects the larger challenges within the performing arts, highlighting the need for a collective effort to establish a supportive culture of health.

Bigger picture

This call to action aligns with findings from a study by the Swedish Record Union, which points to a critical need for mental health support within the music industry, especially among musicians in the 18-25 age group navigating the unique pressures of launching their careers. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Associate Principal Trumpet Matthew Muckey and Principal Oboist Liang Wang

PARMA Recordings Acquires Albany Records — PARMA Recordings is set to acquire Albany Records, enhancing its diverse catalogue with nearly 2,000 classical music releases and strengthening its artistic vision through updated platforms and continued leadership from Albany's founders. | OperaWire

Daniel Barenboim Named Honorary Member of Staatsoper Berlin & Honorary Chief Conductor of Staatskapelle Berlin — Daniel Barenboim has been named Honorary Member of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Honorary Chief Conductor of the Staatskapelle Berlin, recognizing his over 30 years of impactful and artistically rich collaboration with both institutions. | OperaWire

80-Year-Old Pianist With Dementia Moves ‘The Piano’ Viewers With Beautiful Love Theme for His Wife — An 80-year-old pianist named Duncan, who has dementia, touched viewers with his heartfelt performance of "Theme for Fran," a piece he composed for his wife, on Channel 4's show "The Piano." | Classic FM

The BBC Has Joined the War on Our Culture — A critical Op-Ed regarding the BBC Proms for incorporating popular music artists like Sam Smith into its program, arguing that this undermines the festival's classical music integrity and reflects a broader cultural trend of diluting high art with more accessible elements. | The Telegraph

An Eye-Popping ‘El Niño’ at the Met Paints the Nativity at Grand Scale — John Adams's "El Niño" is revived in a visually vibrant new production at the Metropolitan Opera, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, blending traditional Nativity themes with bold, modern aesthetics. | Washington Post

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Bids Farewell to Retiring String Players and Welcomes New Violin Appointments — The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is saying goodbye to several long-time string players with a combined 160 years of experience and welcomes new members, including violinists Sophie McQueen and Joana Rodrigues for the upcoming 2024/25 season. | The Strad

Welsh National Opera Drops Shows Over Funding Cuts — The Welsh National Opera is reducing performances due to significant funding cuts from the Arts Councils of Wales and England. | BBC

INDUSTRY

UK Music Festivals Can No Longer Afford the Cleveland Orchestra

The Cleveland Orchestra was reportedly scheduled to appear at the BBC Proms and Edinburgh Festival as part of its upcoming European tour. Yet it seems the orchestra can’t afford to make the stops in the UK, which is currently suffering from arts funding cuts.

What’s up: This week, the BBC Proms announced this season’s programming. With a number of concerts commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arnold Schoenberg, the festival promises an array of concerts featuring world class musicians and orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Orchestre de Paris among others. One notable absence from the season announcement were American orchestras, normally fixtures at the festival.

Digging deeper: Franz Welser-Möst’s Cleveland Orchestra, called America’s “most brilliant orchestra” by the New York Times, has performed frequently at the BBC Proms since its first appearance there in 1975.

The orchestra will go on a European tour this summer, which was to include its first return to the Proms in ten years as well as a stop at the Edinburgh Festival. Yet both festivals were unable to compensate the orchestra for the funding losses it would suffer by appearing. — SS

VOICE

Tenor Ian Bostridge (right) (Photo: Video still via BBC Radio 3)

Countertenor Takes the Reins at Opera Philadelphia

The countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo has been appointed general director of Opera Philadelphia. Costanzo will succeed the Toronto-born David B. Devan, who announced his departure from the company last spring.

Driving the news: Anthony Roth Costanzo, Opera Philadelphia’s new general director, has a long history with the company. When he was 13, Costanzo played the shepherd in the company’s production of Tosca alongside Luciano Pavarotti. Now an acclaimed countertenor, Costanzo appears regularly with major companies around the world.

Opera Philadelphia’s board was drawn to the singer’s ideas to help attract new audiences, sustainability initiatives, as well as his well-rounded background.

Playing catch-up: When Costanzo was in his twenties, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, impeding his ability to sing. He worked daily with his teacher Joan Patenaude-Yarnell as part of his recovery. He returned to singing and won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions the following year. Two years ago, Costanzo made headlines as the genderfluid Egyptian pharaoh and title character in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten at the Met.

Costanzo immersed himself in the role by studying Egyptology with experts at Oxford University and working out “furiously” in preparation for his costuming. Costanzo also stunned audiences by making his first onstage entrance as the pharaoh in his birthday suit; the first male-frontal nudity at the Metropolitan Opera. Chapeau. — SS

GAMES

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword .

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: 1961-10-18, NY's Museum of Modern Art displays Henri Matisse's picture "Le Bateau" upside down, taking 47 days before someone notices to report it.

🔎 Interesting: The psychology behind why video game farming is so satisfying

😴 Learnings: How to get your sleep schedule on point.

🧩 Cure boredom: 4 puzzles to keep you sharp.

🐈 Awww: These two are loving their new bunk bed.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

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