No images? Click here June 5, 2023 Happy Monday, folks. A 14-year-old boy from Florida just won the US National Spelling Bee contest by spelling our new favourite word, “psammophile”. +++ In today's email:
CLASSICAL CHARTS THE BIG IDEA The Met Opera in Hot Water Over Cyber AttackNew York City's Metropolitan Opera, the largest performing arts organization in the U.S., is facing a class action lawsuit. Why? A whopping 45,094 individuals had their personal data exposed during a cyberattack back on December 6, 2022. Everything from Social Security numbers to financial account info got leaked. It's like a modern-day opera tragedy but with a lot less singing and a lot more legal jargon. Deeper dive: This drama kicked off when cybercriminals froze the Met's website and box office for nine days in December. This was the first time in the Met's 139-year history that something like this happened, and boy, did they notice. The lead singer in this lawsuit is a former employee, Anthony Viti. He's making sure the Met hears his voice loud and clear in the Manhattan Supreme Court. The Met did finally spot the breach, and ordered a third-party forensic investigation. What did they find? The cybercriminals had been stealing personal information for months, between September 30 and December 6, 2022. The plot thickens: Like waiting until the final act to reveal the villain, the Met didn't inform those affected until May 3, 2023 – nearly five months after the data breach. What’s at stake? While the Met is offering 12 months of identity and credit monitoring services to the affected parties, there are fears that the fallout from this cyberattack could echo for years, even decades. It's a stark reminder that even venerable institutions like the Met aren't immune to the threats of the digital age. Interestingly, the lawsuit alleges that the Met could've prevented this data breach if they'd heeded government warnings and installed better security measures. But the Met is hitting back, stating they "strongly believe this case has no merit." TOUR DE HEADLINES (Photo Mühenna Kahveci) Hannigan Appointed Professor at Royal Academy — Barbara Hannigan has been named the Reinbert de Leeuw Professor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music. | Operawire Airline Policy Dispute Leaves Cellist in Uncertainty — Cellist Jaime Compton had a frustrating experience traveling to a concert with her cello on Frontier Airlines due to inconsistent enforcement of the airline's onboard baggage policy for musical instruments. | The Strad ‘Swifties’ Experience Bizzare 'Post-Concert Amnesia — Taylor Swift fans are reporting "post-concert amnesia" after her Eras show, struggling to recall key moments despite enjoying the experience. Experts suggest that intense experiences and focus on certain aspects could lead to such memory gaps, but listening to the setlist may help recall forgotten memories. | BBC UK Orchestra Members to be Credited in Metadata — The UK music industry, under government pressure, has committed to improving music streaming metadata and royalty payments for all performers. This initiative, developed by an industry working group in 2022, seeks to address issues in the digital music era where incomplete or inaccurate metadata often leads to delays in or lack of payment to creators. | Slippedisc Mitsuko Uchida Directs 2024 Ojai Festival — Esteemed pianist and conductor Mitsuko Uchida, has been announced as the Music Director for the 2024 Ojai Music Festival. | ViolinChannel CHART Top 5 Orchestra Donations of All TimeIt’s official. Orchestras are now receiving more revenue from donations than ticket sales, a shift highlighted back in 2016 with a report by the League of American Orchestras. The industry has also seen a shift in ticket-selling strategies, with subscription packages no longer being the primary source of revenue for the first time in 2013. Fast-forward a decade, and this changing financial landscape, coupled with the declining presence of classical music in the broader culture, has only increased. Diving into a symphony of generosity… …let's take a look at the five largest donations to orchestras in North America. 1.) San Diego Symphony: Joan and Irwin Jacobs made waves with a $120 million donation, the largest ever made to a symphony orchestra at that time. The funds were to be donated over a period of 10 years, with the remainder left as a bequest. 2.) The Philadelphia Orchestra: A cool $55 million. This colossal donation, gifted by an anonymous donor-supervised fund, is the largest in the ensemble's history. It's especially noteworthy considering the orchestra's past financial struggles. 3.) The Cleveland Orchestra: A $50 million donation from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation made a massive impact. This generous gift, the largest in the orchestra’s 103-year history, will finance digital upgrades, an opera and humanities festival, and expanded programs. Bonus point: the concert hall got a new name. 4.) Toronto Symphony Orchestra: The Beck family's generous $10 million donation brought their lifetime giving to the TSO to over $20 million. The funds are to support key artistic initiatives and financial objectives, including deficit reduction and endowment growth. 5.) San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra: Last but not least, the orchestra recently received a high note of $2 million from the Paramo family. This gift, the largest in the orchestra's 93-year history, goes straight into the endowments. IN MEMORIAM Kaija Saariaho (Photo: Olivier Roller) In Memoriam: Saying Goodbye to Kaija SaariahoRenowned Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho has died, June 3, 2023, at the age of 70. According to her family, the cause of death was glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer. The composer leaves behind a significant body of work that places her as a central figure in contemporary classical music, particularly opera and orchestral music. Background: Born on October 14, 1952, in Helsinki, Saariaho began her musical journey at a young age. She studied composition at the Sibelius Academy in her hometown before pursuing further education in Germany and France. Embracing innovation and experimentation, Saariaho's works often blended prerecorded electronics with traditional orchestral instruments, creating mesmerizing sonic landscapes. Legacy: During her illustrious career, Saariaho composed a plethora of acclaimed pieces that pushed the boundaries of classical music. Her breakthrough work, "L'Amour de Loin" (Love from Afar), premiered in 2000 at the Salzburg Festival and catapulted her to international recognition. The opera's ethereal melodies and haunting harmonies captivated audiences worldwide, establishing Saariaho as a trailblazer in the field. Saariaho's compositions were not only cherished by music enthusiasts but also recognized by esteemed institutions. In 2011, she became the first female composer to receive the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, honouring her composition "L'Amour de Loin." Her other notable works include "Graal théâtre," "Orion," and "Lonh." Why her work was so important: Kaija Saariaho's pioneering spirit and visionary compositions have left an indelible impact on contemporary classical music. By fearlessly merging electronic elements with traditional orchestration, she expanded the sonic possibilities of the genre. Her groundbreaking work has inspired countless composers and continues to shape the future of classical music. Final thoughts: Through her evocative compositions, she ignited our imagination and challenged our perception of what music could be. Her ethereal melodies and emotive harmonies will continue to enchant and resonate with audiences for generations to come. Kaija Saariaho's legacy is a testament to the power of innovation in classical music. QUIZ How many concerts did Frédéric Chopin perform over his lifetime? A.) 11 concerts B.) 30 concerts C.) 163 concerts D.) about 230 concerts Scroll down for the answer… AROUND THE WEB 📅 On this day: English composer and keyboard player Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625) dies. 👀 Cure boredom: Can you find the emoji? 🧠 Get Nerdy: a website that allows you to try old Versions of MacOS from System 1.0 to version 9.0.4. 🐘 Aww: Houston Zoo elephants do yoga every day to stay fit. PHOTO OF THE WEEK One of the most renowned Porsches of all — the 911 Turbo RS that once belonged to maestro Herbert von Karajan QUIZ ANSWER B.) 30 concerts. Frédéric Chopin disliked giving concerts — he was shy and hated crowds. How did you like today's email? |