The Mariinsky factory just grows and grows. The halls are named after composers – Prokofiev, Shchedrin (pictured), Stravinsky and Mussorgsky.

Gergiev thinks the acoustics are exemplary. Read here (in Russian).

gergiev shchedrin

He would have been 81 today.

AbbaMemor-DCH_0

Out today.

silly walks

We think it’s the first time a composer has been named president of the jury at a major international film festival. Alexandre Desplat will wield the gavel at Venice.

alexandre desplat

The Canadian government has abolished a $275 processing fee it had added to the $150 work permit required for every non-Canadian who plays in small Canadian venues.

It’s a small step. much to be welcomed. Chamber musicians should breathe a sigh of relief.

canada army

 

Deborah Rutter is leaving Chicago with a flourish after 11 years in the top job. The orchestra has not been this happy with its music director since Solti was in his prime.

The finances are stable; an extra $32 million flowed in just last week. The orchestra is socially engaged, interested in new music and thinking creatively about its future.

Rutter-Muti-year

Deborah is one of four women who have turned around US orchestras. The others are Deborah Borda at New York and Los Angeles, Allison Vulgamore at Philadelphia and Anne Parsons at Detroit. No man has performed at this level in a generation. Fact one.

Kathryn McDowell at the LSO is the outstanding orchestra manager in London with a vibrant band, bursting the new ideas. No man &c. Fact 2.

Pamela Rosenberg was the best and brightest of recent managers of the Berlin Philharmonic. Fact 3.

There’s more evidence wherever you care to look. Discuss.

 

This is the Halle Orchestra in Manchester yesterday. They used to love cricket and soccer but, after recent international setbacks, are in the process of changing their sporting allegiance.

Watch. Whatever you do, do not try this at home.


halle hakka

After weeks of almost unprecendented hype, London dealers Ingles & Hayday failed at Sotheby’s last  night to get a price for the Macdonald Strad, formerly owned by Peter Schidlof of the Amadeus Quartet. The price being mooted was a record, ridiculous $45 million.

The dealers used every gimmick on the PR handbook short of having a soloist fall onto the instrument, but the market was not interested. A shamefaced Sotheby’s has yet to tweet the result. After last week’s failure by Christies to shift a $10 million Kreutzer Strad, it looks as if some sanity may return to the top end of instrument prices.

Which is good news for everyone – unless you own one.

Staff member puts the 'Macdonald' viola made by Italian artisan Stradivari on a stand during a preview at Sotheby's gallery in Hong Kong

 

Arriving in Saskatoon, Canada for a concert, Christian McBride found his bow was missing. He posted on Facebook:

 

Now that it’s confirmed, I can tell you that good ol’ TSA confiscated (aka STOLE) my brand new bow right out of my hard case yesterday. I arrived in Saskatoon only to find the bow missing inside the case to my Lemur Travel Bass. Maybe they thought it was a weapon (idiotic), or they were looking for ivory, of which there wasn’t any. I will get to the bottom of this.

christian-mcbride

When will the Obama Administration recognise that the TSA is out of control?

 

Slogans were sprayed on the walls of the Met this morning and police were called.

The stage unions, in dispute with Peter Gelb, immediately denied any involvement. There also seemed to be no connection to the Klinghoffer furore. Just a random spray-can attack, say Met sources.

UPDATES: It’s looking more serious. Art was damaged. See here and here.

metropolitan-opera exterior

This. At Sotheby’s. Mad.

dylandlyric

Ian Derrer is to be artistic administrator, alongshide music director Emmanuel Vuiillaume and chief exec Keith Cerny.

Derrer has done stints at City Opera, Santa Fe and the Lyric Opera, Chicago.

 

ian derrer

Press release

DALLAS, JUNE 25, 2014 – In the wake of Jonathan Pell’s decision to step down after thirty years of distinguished service to The Dallas OperaGeneral Director & CEO Keith Cerny is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Artistic Administrator, Ian Derrer.

Working closely with Dr. Cerny and Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, the Artistic Administrator will be responsible for supporting the planning and implementation of the company’s programming for future seasons.  Going forward, the leadership team will also include Director of Production John Toia and Technical Director Drew Field.  To ensure continuity, as previously announced, Mr. Pell will continue to serve as Artistic Advisor to the company until the end of the 2016-2017 Season.

Following a comprehensive international search—which attracted nearly fifty highly qualified applicants from the U.S., U.K., Continental Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Australia—General Director & CEO Keith Cerny has appointed Mr.Derrer to this newly created position.  Mr. Derrer joins TDO from the Lyric Opera of Chicago.