March 18, 2024

A Toronto company that analyzes canine DNA is in hot water after claiming a woman as 40% Alaskan Malamute.

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In this week’s email:

The big idea: New conductor wanted: Salonen bows out of San Francisco Symphony
High strung: Why this violinist is giving away 100 violins
Opera news: James Conlon steps down from LA Opera
Laugh of the week
Around the web: The Canadian Naval Diving Academy weird tradition, free stock photos, a relaxing bouncing game, 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

Salonen Bows Out of San Francisco Symphony

San Francisco's cultural landscape is about to change as Esa-Pekka Salonen announces his departure from the San Francisco Symphony at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Let's dive into the factors behind the sudden change…

…While his reasons for leaving were not included in the official announcement, Salonen shared some intriguing remarks with Vesa Siren of Helsingin Sanomat. Salonen voiced his displeasure over the financial restraints that led to the cancellation of next year's European tour and his having to find another orchestra to debut his horn concerto at the Lucerne Festival.

He also expressed his disapproval of the substantial budget reductions implemented by the board and concern that they have significantly altered the orchestra's artistic direction and will no longer be able to fulfill his contract's terms.

Financial standing

The symphony's financial landscape reflects wider challenges:

The orchestra lost a significant amount of revenue due to the pandemic.
The ongoing decline in subscribers and donations required strategic responses.
Despite financial challenges, the symphony maintains a strong endowment of $315 million.

What they’re saying

Experts agree that the impact of Salonen's departure will not be good for San Francisco.

Violist David Gaudry shares a sense of unexpected change with NPR.
Critic Joshua Kosman regards the transition as a pivotal moment for the symphony’s creative journey but feels it was too short.

What’s next for San Francisco?

Since 2020, Salonen has conducted a fusion of tradition and modernity, securing the symphony's stature. Salonen's choice of artistic advisors brought a refreshing rhythm to the symphony's offerings, merging classical works with technological frontiers. His upcoming exit casts a spotlight on future directions and potential.

As the symphony seeks new leadership, questions of artistic direction and vision surface. The organization's next steps are critical in shaping its continued role as a cornerstone of the arts.

Salonen's impending finale with the symphony marks not an end but a transition to a new leadership phase. The symphony's dedication to artistry and excellence remains unwavering as it prepares to welcome a new conductor to the podium.

What’s next for Salonen?

Salonen has not publicly announced specific plans for where he will go after his tenure with the San Francisco Symphony ends in 2025. Given his past successes with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the world is his oyster. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Alan Choo’s 2018 Jason Viseltear baroque violin was stolen from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights on 8 March 2024.

Baroque Violin and Bow Stolen from Apollo's Fire Concertmaster — Alan Choo is offering a $400 reward for the return of his stolen 2018 Viseltear baroque violin and Louis Begin bow, last seen in Cleveland with no intent to press charges. | The Violin Channel

Canadian Opera Director Michael Cavanagh Has Died At Age 62 — Michael Cavanagh, noted opera director, died last week of complications from bladder cancer in his hometown of London, Ontario. | Ludwig van Toronto

B.C. Theatre Confronts Dark Past With Reconciliation — The Patricia Theatre in Powell River, B.C., is addressing its past of segregating Indigenous peoples by engaging in reconciliation efforts with the Tla'amin Nation. | CBC

In the Name of Anti-elitism, Arts Council England Has Declared War on Opera and Excellence — Arts Council England's critique of traditional opera, emphasizing a shift away from works deemed elitist and historically distant, ignites controversy over its vision for the future of opera and its value in contemporary culture. | The Guardian

German Composer Aribert Reimann Dies at 88 — Acclaimed German composer Aribert Reimann, known for his significant contributions to opera and contemporary music, has passed away at 88 in Berlin on March 13, 2024. | OperaWire

HIGH STRUNG

Ray Chen (Photo: courtesy of the artist)

Why This Violinist Is Giving Away 100 Violins

Celebrated violinist Ray Chen is hosting a giveaway via Tonic, his practice app. Users of the app who accumulate the most hours of practising within seven-day windows will be eligible to win 1 of 100 Kennedy Violins Chen is giving away.

Catch-up: Ray Chen founded his practise app, Tonic, in 2020. His objective was to motivate young musicians to practise in order to achieve greater success. It is now used in over 130 countries with over 1 million live studios created.

Digging deeper: The 35-year-old violinist Ray Chen has a knack for connecting with younger audiences. In between soloist gigs with orchestras including the Berlin Phil and recordings with his label, Sony Classical, Chen sells video-game inspired merchandise through his brand Ray Chen+. The Australian-Taiwanese violinist also recently made headlines when a fan threw her bra at him during a performance.

And though a free Kennedy Violin would be nice, it’s worth noting that Chen himself plays a 1714 Stradivarius that previously belonged to Jascha Heifetz. — SS

OPERA NEWS

James Conlon (Photo: Robert Millard)

James Conlon Steps Down From LA Opera

Conductor James Conlon announced his plans to step down as leader of the LA Opera following the 2025-2026 season. Conlon will step down the same year the company celebrates its 40th anniversary season, meaning he has led the company for half its history.

The backstory: The Queens-born conductor is the LA Opera’s second-ever music director. He has led the company in more than 460 performances, including the company’s first Ring cycle and premieres of works by Joseph Bologne and by composers persecuted by the Third Reich.

The classical music scene in Los Angeles is in a moment of flux. Conlon will step down from LA Opera shortly following general director Plácido Domingo’s 2019 departure due to sexual harassment allegations. In 2026, Gustavo Dudamel will also leave the LA Philharmonic to take up a new post as leader of the New York Philharmonic.

What’s next: Christopher Koelsch, LA Opera’s president and chief executive, noted that the company will look for someone with a similarly contemporary vision to take up the reins from Conlon. But Conlon won’t be too far away. The conductor will be given the position of conductor laureate in hopes that he will frequently return to conduct productions with the company. — SS

QUIZ

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword.

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908) is born.

🏓 Fun: Take a break with this bouncing game.

📸 Useful: This website offers a great selection of free stock photos.

🤔 Interesting: The Canadian Naval Diving Academy celebrates graduation by photographing their class underwater.

🐈 Awww: This is Bob. Bob won’t let you touch him. You are only allowed to feed him

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

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Today's email was brought to you by Sara 'No Rest for Musicians" Schabas and Michael "100 Violins" Vincent.

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