Here's a recap of classical headlines for March 29, 2010.
New technology, old orchestras, an idea so modern it's old fashioned (a composer/pianist) and one way to get rid of those pesky commercials on radio.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra opens a new website. Welcome to the neighborhood.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/2127752,CST-NWS-lew29.article
Tommasini Likes Thomas Ades (the pianist)
Anthony Tommasini with a very controlled rave review of Thomas Ades’ performance at Carnegie Hall – as a pianist. AT is definitely keeping the adjectives to a minimum, but when he uses them to describe TA, he knows how to use them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/29/arts/music/29ades.html
Orchestras – Classical TARP or the Tar Pit?
Orchestras aren’t any different than any other business as long as those business are medieval, or at least, established by royal fiat…these articles are today’s twists on an old story line. Shrink a bit or be shrunk out of business.
And as a Boston native, I can detect the Boston storyline developing at the end of Jeremy Eichler’s article: um…why hasn’t Levine cancelled his Met performances yet? He cancelled the rest of his BSO performances. Does he get a more comfy chair in New York?
Detroit Struggles: http://www.freep.com/article/20100328/ENT05/3280314/1035/Ent/Detroit-Symphony-Orchestra
Baltimore Struggles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR2010032504337.html
And Boston’s Got a Different Problem: http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/03/25/another_levine_absence_takes_its_toll_on_the_bso/
KING-FM Goes Listener Supported – Pledge $100 or else we'll put commercials back on
In one of those “hit your head here” moments, one of the great classical stations in the US goes “listener-supported”. Why didn’t more stations didn’t think of this earlier? This probably could have saved a dozen classical stations around the country.
PS: this article also tells the truth re: advertising revenues but doesn’t touch the controversy around PPM as an audience measuring device.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011419062_kingfm24m.html?syndication=rss
