July 29, 2024

The San Antonio Symphony Orchestra dissolved in 2022 only to regroup as the San Antonio Philharmonic. After the rebrand, one of the board members is now asking for a $150,000 loan back and plotting a chairman's ouster. Can this orchestra ever catch a break?

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In this week’s email:

• The big idea: Rare brass instruments uncovered in 16th-century shipwreck
• Making news: John Eliot Gardiner steps down from Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra
• Milestones: Classical music world marks conductor Serge Koussevitzky’s 150th b-day!
• Laugh of the week
• Around the web: Bumper stickers for your phone, music genres, questions about whether you actually sleep poorly, 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!

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

Rare Brass Instruments Uncovered in 16th-Century Shipwreck

According to IFLScience, archaeologists from Croatia's International Centre for Underwater Archaeology (ICUA) have uncovered a treasure trove of rare brass trumpets in a 16th-century shipwreck off Istria’s southern coast.

This unknown vessel, armed with English iron cannons, met its end during tumultuous storms. Alongside ceramic vessels, colourful glass beads, and red glass bowls, the recent excavations revealed over ten brass trumpets, a rare find for the period.

The trumpets, marked with inscriptions from Strasbourg and Leiden, suggest a rich story of international trade. One trumpet bears the Latin name for Leiden, "LVGDVNY BATAVORVM," a detail previously unknown in maritime history.

Though initial assessments hint at a Dutch origin, linking trade routes between Leiden, Venice, and Constantinople, more years of research are required for definitive conclusions. Digital techniques like photogrammetry are aiding in documenting the site, while the ship's anchor and cannons will remain as underwater attractions for diving enthusiasts.

Zoom out 

Finding rare musical instruments in shipwrecks is not unprecedented. In 2007, a team discovered a 19th-century violin on the Titanic, while another crew unearthed a unique lyre from an ancient Greek shipwreck in 2015. These discoveries, like the trumpets found in Croatia, offer invaluable insights into historical trade and cultural exchange.— MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Cypress Hill Get Ready for London Symphony Orchestra Gig - Almost 30 Years After the Simpsons ‘Prophecy'  —  Cypress Hill is set to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, fulfilling a scenario humorously predicted on The Simpsons 28 years ago. The performance will feature a unique rendition of their 1993 album, Black Sunday, along with other hits, marking a significant moment in their career following the show's humorous portrayal of the band accidentally ordering the orchestra. | Sky News

30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30, 2024 Edition — CBC Music celebrates the achievements of Canada's hottest young classical talents in its annual "30 under 30" list, featuring rising stars such as violinist Astrid Nakamura, mezzo-soprano Queen Hezumuryango, and tubist Brandon Figueroa. These musicians are noted for winning competitions, making exciting debuts, releasing albums, and graduating from prestigious music schools. | CBC

Robert Moody Named Music Director of Baltimore Chamber Orchestra  — Robert Moody has been appointed as the music director of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, starting a three-year term in the 2024-25 season. This marks his third concurrent directorship, as he also leads the Arizona Musicfest and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, showcasing a vast experience with various esteemed orchestras and opera companies worldwide. | Symphony.org

When Putin Invaded My Country, I Couldn’t Take up Arms – I Raised My Conductor’s Baton Instead  — Keri-Lynn Wilson, a Canadian-Ukrainian conductor, responded to the invasion of Ukraine by founding the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, leveraging music as a form of cultural resistance on a global scale. Amidst the ongoing conflict, the orchestra's performances across major cities like London and New York symbolize a steadfast commitment to Ukraine's cultural and national identity, echoing historic calls for freedom and unity through music. | The Guardian

MAKING NEWS

John Eliot Gardiner (Photo: The Philharmonia Orchestra)

John Eliot Gardiner Steps Down From Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra

Following his assault allegation last year, the conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner has announced that he will not return to his post with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra. Gardiner is alleged to have punched the bass William Thomas while backstage during a performance of Les Troyens.

The update: This week, the conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner announced that he will not return as leader and artistic director of the  Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra. Gardiner’s departure follows allegations that he hit the singer William Thomas while backstage during a performance of Les Troyens. Thomas reportedly exited to the wrong side of the stage, inciting a violent temper tantrum from the illustrious conductor. Gardiner claims to have undergone extensive therapy and counseling since the incident eleven months ago. The conductor has also withdrawn from performances at the BBC Proms.

Catch-up: The 81-year-old conductor John Eliot Gardiner founded the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra (MCO) in 1964. Following his incident with William Thomas, the MCO considered the possibility of a rehabilitation process as Gardiner received treatment for anger management. However, negotiations between Gardiner and the board reportedly became turbulent, causing the board to lose patience in Gardiner. The MCO plans to announce new projects and conductors for the orchestra at the end of the summer. — SS

MILESTONES

Serge Koussevitzky (Photo: Historical Recordings, The Listeners' Club, Twentieth Century)

Classical Music World Marks Conductor Serge Koussevitzky’s 150th Birthday

The Russian-American conductor and composer Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951) served as conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the first half of the 20th century. He was born 150 years ago this month.

Driving the news: On July 26th, the classical music world marked 150 years since the birth of Serge Koussevitzky. Koussevitzky served as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924-1929, during which he shaped the BSO into the most refined and sensitive orchestra in the world.  

In case you didn’t know…: Serge Koussevitzky was born into a Russian-Jewish family north of Moscow in 1874. He was an acclaimed double bassist before making his conducting debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1908.

As well as being a conductor, Koussevitzky was also a publisher, educator, and composer. He founded the Éditions Russes de Musique publishing firm in 1909, which published works by Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, and Scriabin, among others. In 1924, Koussevitzky became director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he also presented and commissioned new works by Ravel, Copland, Hindemith, Stravinsky, and Randall Thomson. He helped form the educational programs at the BSO’s summer home, the Tanglewood Institute, and was a great mentor to Leonard Bernstein, who never conducted without wearing the cufflinks given to him by Koussevitzky. The maestro must’ve had good taste. — SS

GAMES

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword.

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: Robert Schumann dies, 1856.

💤 Interesting: You claim you slept poorly all night, but new research says otherwise.

🎶 Helpful: A great resource for learning about music genres.

📖 Neat: Bumper stickers for your phone.

🐈‍⬛ Awww:  Adopting these two brothers and sisters.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

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Today's email was brought to you by Sara "Simpsons ‘Prophecy" Schabas and Michael "Shipwreck" Vincent.

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