October 23, 2023

A town in Utah has ordered a risqué Halloween display to be taken down. The display features a skeleton pole dancing, with other skeletons watching from seats below, waving money and holding drinks.

+++

In this week’s email:

The big idea: Navigating backlash over artists expressing political views
Scores: Musical treasures go up for auction
Research: New study demonstrates gender imbalances in US opera
Photo of the week
Around the web: New York Citys' weird new alligator statue, microscope photo contest winners, a website with clickbait-free news, 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

Navigating Backlash Over Artists Expressing Political Views

When classical music collides with the fervent realm of politics, the results can have serious consequences for artists. While revered for their artistry, they aren't immune to the repercussions of voicing their opinions.

A recent example is Turkish pianist Fazil Say, who took to his social media last week to call Netanyahu a war criminal and accused Israel of genocide in relation to the bombing of a hospital, which U.S. intelligence has reported was the result of a misfired Palestinian rocket.

According to Slippedisc, The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Migros Concerts in Switzerland have cancelled his upcoming shows.

Fazıl Say responded, stating he believes in freedom of speech and expressed disappointment at the cancellation. He emphasized his commitment to peace and music as a beacon of hope.

Let's delve into five times when artists found themselves center-stage in political controversies, from concert cancellations to media storms.

1. Valery Gergiev's Political Pause

Who: Valery Gergiev, renowned Russian conductor.
What: Openly supported Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When: 2014
The Backlash: Protests disrupted his concerts, leading to some cancellations.

2. Roberto Alagna's Operatic Outburst

Who: Roberto Alagna, French-Italian tenor.
What: Walked off the stage at La Scala after being booed, citing political reasons.
When: 2006
The Backlash: His walk-off made headlines and stirred debates about artist freedom and audience expectations.

3. Daniel Barenboim's Borderline Beethoven

Who: Daniel Barenboim, celebrated conductor and pianist.
What: Played Wagner, a controversial figure in Israel, as an encore in Jerusalem.
When: 2001
The Backlash: It sparked a heated debate about the separation of art and politics. Some praised his bravery, while others criticized the choice.

4. Joyce DiDonato's Rainbow Recital

Who: Joyce DiDonato, renowned American mezzo-soprano.
What: Dedicated a performance at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow to the LGBTQ community during Russia's anti-gay law controversy.
When: 2013
The Backlash: While she faced no direct repercussions, her statement made waves in the media and was a bold stance given the political climate.

5. Dmitri Shostakovich's Silent Symphony

Who: Dmitri Shostakovich, Russian composer.
What: His work was often seen as a critique of the Stalinist regime.
When: 1930s
The Backlash: Shostakovich faced official denunciations, and his works were banned. He lived in fear of arrest.

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Photo courtesy of Bandcamp.

Half of Bandcamp’s Staff Laid Off After Songtradr Acquisition — After Songtradr's acquisition of Bandcamp, 50% of Bandcamp's staff were laid off due to rising operating costs and business adjustments. Despite this, Songtradr pledges to maintain beloved Bandcamp services and is yet to decide on recognizing the Bandcamp United union. | Variety

English National Opera in Chaos After Music Director Resigns Suddenly Over 'Severe Cuts' — The English National Opera's (ENO) music director, Martyn Brabbins, resigned over concerns about proposed funding cuts and their impact on the company's artistic integrity. This follows Arts Council England's controversial decision, leading to potential job losses and the ENO's eventual relocation out of London. | The Independent

Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians Approve a New Labor Agreement for Higher Pay, Increased Work Protections — Philadelphia Orchestra musicians have agreed to a new labor contract that includes higher wages and better work protections following threats of a strike. Meanwhile, the English National Opera (ENO) is undergoing changes, with its music director resigning and discussions about funding and relocation continuing. | The Philadelphia Inquirer*

Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland Forging New Friendships — The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, established post the Northern Ireland peace process, unites young musicians from diverse backgrounds to promote unity through music. Amidst ongoing political tensions, the orchestra offers a positive narrative, showcasing the power of music to bridge divides and foster friendships. | BBC

Opera World Hopes Discount Tickets Win Back Audiences — Opera companies in Canada and the U.S. have introduced a discount ticket exchange program to address declining sales coordinated by Opera America. Despite challenges, research indicates a rise in first-time attendees, and the new "Opera Passport" aims to attract both newcomers and regulars to explore shows outside their cities. | The Globe & Mail*

Reorienting "Madama Butterfly" — Detroit Opera's new "Madama Butterfly" production reimagines Puccini's portrayal of Japan, framing it as a modern American's virtual reality fantasy influenced by anime. The adaptation, aiming to correct cultural misconceptions, resonates with current concerns about the virtual realm's impact on reality. | The New Yorker*

Yunchan Lim: 19-Year-Old Piano Sensation Signs Record Deal — Yunchan Lim, a 19-year-old pianist dubbed "classical music's answer to K-pop," has signed with the UK's Decca Records after a competitive bidding war. Lim, who won the Van Cliburn Piano Competition last year, will release his first studio recording with Decca in the spring of 2024. | BBC

*Subscription required

SCORES

Musical Treasures Go Up for Auction

The London auction house Christie’s is selling scores by composers including Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Bach and Wagner.

Details: On October 25th, Christie’s auction house in London will begin the auction of musical manuscripts from their Schøyen Collection. Entitled “The History of Western Music: Manuscripts from the Schøyen Collection,” the sale’s contents include a signed copy of Ravel’s Bolero, a first edition of Wagner’s Tannhaüser, Vaughan Williams’ A London Symphony, Bach’s Toccata in D Minor and Handel’s Coronation Anthems, amongst other musical treasures.

Going Deeper: Christie’s will also auction works that mark the development of Western classical music. These include a scroll in French Messine notation dated from 900 AD, as well as examples of Byzantine and early German musical notation.

Refresher: The Schøyen Collection is a collection of manuscripts spanning 5000 years of human civilization. The collection includes the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical works of many different traditions such as the Tower of Babel Stele, literary and musical works including the Epic of Gilgamesh and works by Shakespeare, and more recently, movie scripts and storyboards.

Despite the priceless nature of these cultural artifacts, the Bach Toccata manuscript is expected to sell for between 40,000 and 60,000 GBP. Now’s your chance!

RESEARCH

Porgy and Bess, 2019. Production by James Robinson, set designs by Michael Yeargan, costume designs by Catherine Zuber. Photo: Ken Howard

New Study Demonstrates Gender Imbalances Persist in US Opera

Last week, a study in the Equality, Diversion and Inclusion journal highlighted major gender imbalances in the US opera sector.

What’s up?: Equality, Diversion and Inclusion, a peer-reviewed journal, published a study last week highlighting major gender inequities in leadership positions in the US opera sector. The study surveyed the 11 largest American companies between 2005 and 2021, including the Met, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the San Francisco Opera.

Going Deeper: The study found that between 2005 and 2021 at these companies, men accounted for:

95% of conductors
85% of directors
88% of set designers
85% of lighting designers
59% of costume designers

QUIZ

Can you recognize this composer?

A: Leoš Janáček

B: Béla Bartók

C: Aaron Copland

D: Milton Babbitt

Scroll down for the answer…

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: Igor Stravinsky premiered his Violin Concerto in D Major in 1931.

🐊 Interesting: New York unveils statue commemorating alligator sewer myth.

🔬Neat: See the winning microscopic photos at Nikon’s 2023 Small World contest.

📖 Useful: This website allows you to read the news without any clickbait.

🐈 Aww: Someone put a scarecrow on their porch for Halloween, and this cat has been cuddling up with it.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Happy belated birthday, Liszt!

QUIZ ANSWER

B: Béla Bartók

How did you like today's email?

Today's email was brought to you by Sara "Musical Treasures" Schabas and Michael "No Clickbait" Vincent.

CONTACT US