Wow, it’s been a while.  Life/work has been very busy, but that’s no excuse for not pumping out a blog or two….or twenty. What has been so busy?  Well, at WFIU I’ve been expanding existing programs and creating new ones.  Our classical music service, produced at hosted by me, is called ClassicalWorks and has been getting modest carriage.  I wish I had more time and resources devoted to promoting it, but we’ll get there eventually.  I’d also like to get a website for the service up and running, but that’s proving to … Continue Reading

Almost two months ago, James Levine, after years of whispering and speculation, was finally accused publicly of sexual misconduct.  I already covered it.   In more recent weeks, Charles Dutoit has also been accused by several women of offense ranging from groping to flat-out rape.  And there’s understandably been a tremendous buzz in the classical radio world on just how to handle the accusations and recordings made by the accused. Last week I was interviewed by David C. Barnett of WCPN in Cleveland about this very thing.  You can read or listen to … Continue Reading

It was inevitable that the wave of sexual harassment allegations that have swept the country in recent months would eventually wash up on the shore of classical music’s small but mighty island.  And for anyone with connections to people in the performance business, it was not surprising that the first major figure to be caught in the rip current is James Levine, a man whose artistic genius was always darkened by rumors of sexual deviance and a penchant for young boys.  If Harvey Weinstein’s horridness in Hollywood was considered a semi-open secret, … Continue Reading

I’ve been listening to both regular programming and fund drives on a number of classical stations over the last several months, and after a while I began to notice a pattern.  Hosts tend to open up in a big way when they’re paired with other people.  They set aside all those preconceived ideas of what they should sound like as a classical radio host and began to talk like normal people.  The act of asking someone for money uses a different part of your social skills – you’re forced to put yourself … Continue Reading