There’s a vitriolic war of words going on across the pond in Great Britain over this statement made by the Arts Minister Margaret Hodge:
“The audiences for many of our greatest cultural events – I’m thinking of the Proms but it is true of many others – is still a long way from demonstrating that people from different backgrounds feel at ease in being part of this.”
She is being torn apart for this, but there is a balanced and profound viewpoint that I came across……
Tomorrow I have the honor to conduct for the second time in my career Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. I can’t help but think that if the New York Phil had performed this with a choir from North Korea then the world would have been on that stage, not just an orchestra from America. It brings to mind Bernstein’s famous 1989 performance celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall and him changing the word Joy to the word Freedom…..
“It was so exciting to be in a jam-packed arena…..I was impressed by the ferocity of the crowd’s emotions. There was such a personal investment and identification with the players. And the mood can change very, very quickly.”
This is a quote by Kent Nagano that appeared recently in the Toronto Globe and Mail. He’s not talking about a concert though…….
A blogger wrote the above comment in a post about a performance I conducted 18 months ago at our annual “Firefall” festival, a patriotic extravaganza with incredible fireworks. I think the blogger was right in this case since when I talked, the fireworks paused! When judging whether or not talking to an audience is a good idea, I believe what is said by a conductor is secondary to their motivation to talk…..
After my rant about the Heinz Endowments last week, it came as a complete but welcome surprise to read of how the Knight Foundation has changed their philosophy of giving, at least for three arts organizations in South Florida. I believe they will ultimately prove that vision always begins with common sense!….
What continues to impress me about the Columbus Symphony musicians is their understanding of the situation, their hope and most of all their willingness to put a human face on what is at best an uncertain future. Again they are connecting to their city in a way that can be understood and appreciated by everyone…….
It was not a stunt on January 19 when 22 musicians didn’t return to their seats until intermission was nearly over. It was a demonstration of what the orchestra might look like if the Columbus Symphony Orchestra board proposals for deep cuts are adopted. It was as if they were saying to the audience:
Is this the orchestra you want to see? You decide.
It was an extraordinary move, and now the audience is now going to be a part of the decision, as they should be!…………….
and lose 20 pounds!
The Springfield Symphony was one of the 39 charter orchestras that started ASOL. Well they’ve now changed their name, and it’s my hope they’re not going to be “in a league of their own”. I don’t want to be anonymous in any survey, and since they are new again, I just want to give my wish or hope list for the League of American Orchestras…..