An employment tribunal in Cardiff has ruled unanimously that oboist Murray Johnston was neither victimised by its former music director, Carlo Rizzi, nor unfairly dismissed (see earlier commentary).
The decision is a serious blow for the Musicians Union, which supported Mr Johnston and conducted member ballots on his behalf. While Welsh National Opera expressed quiet satisfaction at the victory, the ruling is unlikely to allay the orchestra’s unhappiness, as described to the court.
First report here.
An employment tribunal in Cardiff has ruled unanimously that oboist Murray Johnston was neither victimised by its former music director, Carlo Rizzi, nor unfairly dismissed (see earlier commentary).
The decision is a serious blow for the Musicians Union, which supported Mr Johnston and conducted member ballots on his behalf. While Welsh National Opera expressed quiet satisfaction at the victory, the ruling is unlikely to allay the orchestra’s unhappiness, as described to the court.
First report here.
The Vienna Philharmonic’s having a rocky ride with its Japan tour. First, Seiji Ozawa fell ill. He was replaced by Andris Nelsons and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Now Salonen has pulled out.
Looks like Franz Welser-Möst, the new Opera chief, will fly in to save the tour along with the ever-willing Georges Pretre.
Salonen’s Vienna concert is being taken over by Andres Orozco-Estrada.
Who’s that? He’s 33, a hot young Colombian at the Tonkünstler orchestra of Lower Austria, as well as the Basque symphony orchestra in Spain. Looks like he’s going places. Fast.
See pictures here: http://orozcoestrada.com/gallery.php#
The Vienna Philharmonic’s having a rocky ride with its Japan tour. First, Seiji Ozawa fell ill. He was replaced by Andris Nelsons and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Now Salonen has pulled out.
Looks like Franz Welser-Möst, the new Opera chief, will fly in to save the tour along with the ever-willing Georges Pretre.
Salonen’s Vienna concert is being taken over by Andres Orozco-Estrada.
Who’s that? He’s 33, a hot young Colombian at the Tonkünstler orchestra of Lower Austria, as well as the Basque symphony orchestra in Spain. Looks like he’s going places. Fast.
See pictures here: http://orozcoestrada.com/gallery.php#
Two cultural arguments were advanced in last night’s Battle of Ideas debate in vindication of the gladiatorial television contest that has created a feeding frenzy in British mass media.
The New Culture Forum founder Peter Whittle suggested that Simon Cowell’s ruthlessly commercial competition was useful corrective to the anti-competitive ethos fostered in UK schools – the politically correct attitude that ‘everyone must have prizes’.
And Mark Frith, editor of Time Out London, volunteered that Cowell had, wittingly or otherwise, exposed the real cruelties of the music business and empowered aspirants to deal with record producers from a greater knowledge base.
Other contributors assailed television’s loss of confidence in pursuing slick contests. The BBC came in for stick for its alliance with Andrew Lloyd Webber and its derogation of serious arts programming to similar ingredients. Cowell could be laughed off for what he is – a successful producer of pap. No-one rose to defend the BBC.
Two cultural arguments were advanced in last night’s Battle of Ideas debate in vindication of the gladiatorial television contest that has created a feeding frenzy in British mass media.
The New Culture Forum founder Peter Whittle suggested that Simon Cowell’s ruthlessly commercial competition was useful corrective to the anti-competitive ethos fostered in UK schools – the politically correct attitude that ‘everyone must have prizes’.
And Mark Frith, editor of Time Out London, volunteered that Cowell had, wittingly or otherwise, exposed the real cruelties of the music business and empowered aspirants to deal with record producers from a greater knowledge base.
Other contributors assailed television’s loss of confidence in pursuing slick contests. The BBC came in for stick for its alliance with Andrew Lloyd Webber and its derogation of serious arts programming to similar ingredients. Cowell could be laughed off for what he is – a successful producer of pap. No-one rose to defend the BBC.
I have written an op-ed in the Daily Telegraph this morning discussing the issues raised by the current employment tribunal case in Cardiff, where an oboist at Welsh National Opera is claiming he was ‘victimised’ and ‘bullied’ by the conductor, Carlo Rizzi.
What goes on in an orchestra’s rehearsal room can never be resolved by law and logic, least of all my musical merit. Chemistry, temperature and body language are essential elements in the making and maintenance of a good orchestra. When they fail, something’s got to give and someone’s got to go. The trick is to do it decently. The fault in Wales seems to be that they tried to do it too much by the book.
Once it gets to court, everyone looks stupid. Here’s the latest local BBC report.
And here’s my piece: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/8065562/The-maestro-must-never-play-second-fiddle.html
A verdict is expected later today and I’ll report it here.
I have written an op-ed in the Daily Telegraph this morning discussing the issues raised by the current employment tribunal case in Cardiff, where an oboist at Welsh National Opera is claiming he was ‘victimised’ and ‘bullied’ by the conductor, Carlo Rizzi.
What goes on in an orchestra’s rehearsal room can never be resolved by law and logic, least of all my musical merit. Chemistry, temperature and body language are essential elements in the making and maintenance of a good orchestra. When they fail, something’s got to give and someone’s got to go. The trick is to do it decently. The fault in Wales seems to be that they tried to do it too much by the book.
Once it gets to court, everyone looks stupid. Here’s the latest local BBC report.
And here’s my piece: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/8065562/The-maestro-must-never-play-second-fiddle.html
A verdict is expected later today and I’ll report it here.
