March 4, 2024

A 54-year-old man was taken into custody by Police after performing a nude piano performance at a seniors facility in Mission, BC. The whole thing with chairs being thrown at a police officer. A concert to remember for sure.

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In this week’s email:

The big idea: Why Is China’s middle class abandoning the piano?
Orchestral maneuvers: Philadelphia Orchestra renames concert hall
Career Moves: Jaap van Zweden to take over at Radio France following NYPhil post
Laugh of the week
Around the web: Relax with the four basic elements: loud languages, stargazing planning, 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

Why Is China’s Middle-Class Walking Away From the Piano?

Once a symbol of Western affluence, the piano has found its way into the heart of China's cultural evolution. Owning a piano was as much a status symbol in China as having a luxury car in the driveway. Fast forward to today, China's middle-class families can’t get rid of their pianos fast enough.

Closing the lid

The industry's decline is evident in the financial reports of leading piano manufacturers. Hailun Pianos revenue has decreased by 21.99% and its net profit has dropped by 24.7%. Similarly, Pearl River Piano Group has experienced a 31.47% fall in revenue and a dramatic 93.54% drop in net profit.

These figures are a clear indication of the broader industry's struggles, with a significant collective decrease in both operating income and profits, as reported by the China Musical Instrument Association.

The second-hand market for pianos has also been affected, with instruments that were once expensive now being sold for much less, underscoring the industry's challenges.

What’s behind the decline?

According to Think China, the decline of the piano in China can be attributed to a mix of

economic pressures and changes in education policy. As the cost of living rises

and the economy tightens, middle-class families are finding it harder to justify the expense of a luxury item like a piano, which also requires costly lessons and maintenance.

Additionally, the Chinese government has de-emphasized the importance of piano skills in national exams, meaning that proficiency at the piano no longer offers the educational advantages or the potential for social mobility that it once did. With these shifts, the demand for pianos has fallen, leading to a surplus of instruments and a struggling industry.

How do sales compare to the West?

In recent years, piano sales in China outpaced those in the United States significantly. At its peak, the Chinese market saw annual sales of around 400,000 pianos, while during the same period, the United States averaged about 30,000 pianos sold per year.

This stark contrast highlights China's once-booming interest in pianos, driven by cultural factors and educational incentives that didn't exist to the same extent in the U.S. However, with the recent decline in China's piano market due to economic and policy changes, these figures are likely to adjust, and the gap in sales between the two countries may be narrowing. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Sheku Kanneh-Mason (Courtesy photo)

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason Takes up Role at Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra — The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has named British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason as its 2024 MAC Music Innovator. | The Strad (Paywall)

Faculty of Cleveland Institute of Music Votes ‘No Confidence’ Against President and Provost — The Cleveland Institute of Music faculty issued a no-confidence vote against President Paul Hogle and Provost Scott Harrison, citing financial mismanagement, high staff turnover, and ignoring student complaints among their concerns.| Cleveland.com

Plácido Domingo & Jose Carreras Postpone Australia Tour — Plácido Domingo and Jose Carreras have postponed their Australia tour to November 2024 due to unforeseen circumstances, with concerts in Adelaide and Perth cancelled. | Limelight

Hans Zimmer Details Building the Score for ‘Dune: Part Two’ — Hans Zimmer shared insights on crafting the score for "Dune: Part Two," highlighting his unique approach to creating new sonic worlds that integrate with every aspect of the film, inspired by his lifelong appreciation of Frank Herbert's novel. | Yahoo

ORCHESTRAL MANEUVERS

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Centre (Photo: Meyer Sound)

Philadelphia Orchestra Renames Verizon Hall Marian Anderson Hall

This week, the Philadelphia Orchestra announced a name change for their concert hall. Following a 25 million dollar gift, Verizon Hall will be renamed Marian Anderson Hall, honouring the renowned contralto.

Digging deeper: Richard Worley, former chair of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s board, and his wife Leslie Miller made the legendary donation. The former financier and his wife expressed a wish to honour the trailblazing contralto who broke racial barriers and shared her formidable artistry despite civil rights adversity.

Why it matters: Worley and Miller’s donation is one of the largest in the Philadelphia Orchestra’s history. It comes in an era when the Philadelphia Orchestra, under Yannick Nézét-Séguin’s leadership, has made efforts to create a more racially diverse, representative art form. Kudos to Worley and Miller for honouring Anderson; a formidable Philadelphian who overcame so much to touch the hearts of many. — SS

CAREER MOVES

Cleveland Orchestra (courtesy photo)

Jaap van Zweden to Take Over at Radio France Following NYPhil Post

This summer, the conductor Jaap van Zweden’s term at the New York Philharmonic comes to an end. But he certainly won’t be retiring. The 63-year-old conductor just announced that he will take over as music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France for five years, beginning in 2026.

The backstory: The Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden began his career as a violinist. At 19, he was concertmaster of the Concertgebouw orchestra before moving into conducting after Leonard Bernstein asked him to try his hand at conducting an orchestra in Berlin. He has been leading the New York Philharmonic since the 2018-2019 season as well as the Seoul Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

The gut punch: Despite his formidable talents, Van Zweden’s tenure at the NYPhil has been one of the shortest in the organization’s history. Hopefully, he stays a little longer in France! — SS

QUIZ

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword.

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) is born.

🧘‍♀️ Relax: Combine four basic elements and see what happens!

🗣️ Really? Climate is the biggest predictor of how loud a language is.

✨ Useful: This website allows you to help plan your stargazing activities whenever you live.

🐶 Awww: Happy birthday to little bear.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

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Today's email was brought to you by Sara 'Gut Punch" Schabas and Michael "Piano in the Driveway" Vincent.

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