1 The New York Philharmonic will pick the wrong man to
succeed Zarin Mehta (they won’t even interview a woman).

                                                                                                      press photo courtesy NYPO

2 Placido Domingo will not retire on his 70^th
birthday (why does the poster say he’s older?).

3 Anna Netrebko will cancel (who says she’s a no-show?)

                                                                                                  press photo courtesy dpa

4 Joyce DiDonato won’t.

5 Valery Gergiev will arrive late at three concerts out of
four (too busy with his main best friend?)

6 The Dutch will talk about scrapping orchestras, and do nothing. 

7 Wicked old Citibank will break up EMI. 

8 The new Helsinki hall will be an acoustic marvel. Free
Nokias with season subscriptions.

9 The New York Times will continue the free PR service for Alan
Gilbert and Peter Gelb (and free bagels, too).

                                                                     photos (c) New York Times

The January issue of the German magazine Das Orchester is dedicated to environmental awareness. It reports healthy progress on many fronts.

The Schleswig Holstein Music Festival has introduced reusable lunch plates. The Leiszhalle in Hamburg has replaced its lighting system. The Grafenegg festival runs bus shuttles. 

Players in Daniel Barenboim’s Berlin Staaskepelle have set up a group called NaturTon to raise awareness among musicians and audiences of the damage they are doing to the planet.

The British music industry is praised for forging ahead with Julie’s Bicycle, a cross-arts initiative chaired by ex-EMI boss Tony Wadsworth on how to make the arts less pollutant.

There is, of course, an elephant in the room. It is called orchestral touring. If orchestras like the Staatskapelle stopped jumping on planes at the drop of a fat cheque, they would save large chunks of the ozone layer and be able to play with clean consciences. It’s not as if they tour for a living. Most orchestra players are paid salaries whether they play or not, fly or stay home. 

Flying orchestras is wasteful and wrong. Most musicians know that and many would like to do something about it.

Audiences can help. Support your local orchestra. Don’t buy tickets to orchestras on tour. Spread the word. Stop classical pollution.

The January issue of the German magazine Das Orchester is dedicated to environmental awareness. It reports healthy progress on many fronts.

The Schleswig Holstein Music Festival has introduced reusable lunch plates. The Leiszhalle in Hamburg has replaced its lighting system. The Grafenegg festival runs bus shuttles. 

Players in Daniel Barenboim’s Berlin Staaskepelle have set up a group called NaturTon to raise awareness among musicians and audiences of the damage they are doing to the planet.

The British music industry is praised for forging ahead with Julie’s Bicycle, a cross-arts initiative chaired by ex-EMI boss Tony Wadsworth on how to make the arts less pollutant.

There is, of course, an elephant in the room. It is called orchestral touring. If orchestras like the Staatskapelle stopped jumping on planes at the drop of a fat cheque, they would save large chunks of the ozone layer and be able to play with clean consciences. It’s not as if they tour for a living. Most orchestra players are paid salaries whether they play or not, fly or stay home. 

Flying orchestras is wasteful and wrong. Most musicians know that and many would like to do something about it.

Audiences can help. Support your local orchestra. Don’t buy tickets to orchestras on tour. Spread the word. Stop classical pollution.