FEATURE
Five Ways Classical Music Is Pivoting
Ludwig van TORONTO: Michael Vincent
According to Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, there are ten different kinds of pivots. At least six out of them are relevant to classical music.
RESEARCH AND OPINION
How Bang on a Can helped remake the world of new music
Datebook: Joshua Kosman
Something possibly worth noting about the influential New York new-music behemoth Bang on a Can is that the name is, strictly speaking, a misnomer. There aren’t any cans, and there’s only a reasonable amount of banging.
Cole Porter’s Immigration Protest… Ballet
Indianapolis Monthly: Susan Salaz
It’s not the Hoosier’s most famous work by a long shot, but “Within the Quota” is newly resonant today.
Anti-Colonial Orchestras: A Cultural Response to Classical Music Imperialism
Blog: Mae Mai
One of my longest research projects is tracing the evolution of the orchestra. Not just the European orchestra, but all the orchestras of the world including indigenous large ensembles, slave orchestras, Soviet folk orchestras, and groups I’m starting to refer to as Anti-Colonial Orchestras.
Black, Female and Carving Out Their Own Path in Country Music
NY Times: Sarah Rodman
That they don’t have a Black female role model who ascended to those levels of stardom deters them not one iota; they plan to be the change they want to see in Nashville.
Billie Holiday’s Story Depends on Who’s Telling It
NY Times: Robert Ito
There are almost as many interpretations of her short life and enormous legacy as there are books and films about her, including the new biopic starring Andra Day.
The Black History of the Banjo
Afropop: Ben Richmond
Rhiannon Giddens, Bassekou Kouyate, Bela Fleck and more talk claw-hammers, trad jazz, Appalachian folk, African ancestors and the on-going story of American music, which would be woefully incomplete without a Black history of the banjo.
Most shielding musicians feel they cannot return to work until vaccinated, research reveals
The Strad
Almost all respondents do not believe that the Government has a clear plan on how to get them back to work safely.
NATIONAL
Boston Symphony Orchestra Names First Woman Chief Executive
NY Times: Julia Jacobs
Gail Samuel spent nearly three decades at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, part of a management team that helped make it the envy of the orchestra world.
Black dancers struggle to make their way through pandemic
Washington Post: Nikesha Elise Williams
Some Black dance companies have been underfunded for so long that they may never recover from the pandemic, some industry insiders say
Carnegie Hall Cancels All Events Until July
The Violin Channel
The venue has been closed since March 13, 2020 in line with New York City and State government orders, guidelines issued by the CDC, and the advice of health experts.
San Francisco Opera announces plans for a return to live performances
Datebook: Joshua Kosman
The San Francisco Opera plans to present its first live performances in more than a year this spring with a new, slimmed-down adaptation of Rossini’s comedy “The Barber of Seville” and three vocal recitals featuring the company’s Adler Fellows.
Where Are They Now? We Check In With Broadway Workers, Now Off Broadway
NPR: Jeff Lunden
Every year, as a set-up for the Tony Awards, we take you backstage to meet people who aren’t even eligible. These are Broadway’s essential workers – ushers, stage managers, costumers. I decided to check in with some of those essential workers I’ve interviewed before, to find out how they’ve been coping since theaters closed.
INTERNATIONAL
City of London scraps plan for ‘Tate Modern of classical music’
The Guardian: Lanre Bakare
The Centre for Music was billed as being an acoustically perfect 2,000-seat concert hall for the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and would have had restaurants, commercial space and a smaller venue for jazz performances.
Scrapped Plans for London Concert Hall Sour Mood for U.K. Musicians
NY Times: Alex Marshall
The decision comes as classical musicians struggle to deal with the impact of the pandemic and Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Female composer gets radio time by posing as a man
The Times UK: Will Humphries
Regular airplay eluded Annabel Bennett until she decided to adopt a male pseudonym.
New Management Agency Launched for Young Artists
The Violin Channel
Forbes Artists, in Montreal, will represent a new generation of classical musicians.
Missing your culture fix? Good news, Glyndebourne will return this summer
Harpers Bazaar: Marie Claire Chappet
Finally, something to look forward to! Glyndebourne has just confirmed that it will proceed with its annual opera festival this summer.
Barbican to stay closed to capacity audiences through summer 2021
The Strad
The Live from the Barbican series will continue after Easter.
Music industry welcomes UK Government’s commitment to save touring in Europe
The Strad
The Minister for Digital and Culture has committed to working with music organizations to find solutions to the touring issue.
Opera Singers Help Covid-19 Patients Learn to Breathe Again
NY Times: Andrew Dickson
A six-week program developed by the English National Opera and a London hospital offers customized vocal lessons to aid coronavirus recovery.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Woody Phifer’s Quest to Build the Perfect Guitar
Rolling Stone: Jonathan Bernstein
Veteran craftsman is respected by some of the biggest names in rock and jazz, despite facing institutional barriers as one of very few black luthiers in the industry
Aaron Dworkin — With Choreographer Liz Lerman
The Violin Channel
Aaron Dworkin sits down with Arizona State University Choreographer, Liz Lerman, to discuss her creative process and the connection between movement and discord.
New York Philharmonic Announces New Streaming Service
The Violin Channel
The new on-demand streaming service, named NYPhil+, is now available to subscribers.
Wigmore Hall unveils programme of 40 live-streamed concerts
The Strad
More than 200 players will have the chance to play at the London venue over the next six weeks.
Kings Place to launch London Unwrapped, with concerts streamed from late February
The Strad
The year-long series celebrates the musical diversity of Britain’s capital.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Jerusalema: The dance sweeping the world – from Angolans to Israeli monks and Irish police
ITV News
Jerusalema is a song by South African house musician Master KG. Friends in Angola filmed themselves dancing to the hit – the moves have since been recreated the world over. From health workers to nuns to children, everyone is getting involved.
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