Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will present a protest to the embattled Brazilian conductor, Roberto Minczuk, who has sacked half his orchestra. They will not, however, jeopardise his concert.

Here’s a cautious statement, just in, from the Musicians’ Union:
LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONICSUPPORTS RIO COLLEAGUESRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) musicians have expressed their solidarity with colleagues from the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra (OSB) by expressing concern at the dismissal of several OSB musicians to Roberto Minczuk, who is guest conducting with the RLPO for concerts in Preston on Wednesday 11 May 2011, and in the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool on Thursday 12 May and Sunday 15 May.

Mr Minczuk is, in part, responsible for the summary dismissal of a large number of full time musicians from the OSB.  The OSB, under Roberto Minczuk’s guidance is holdingauditions in New York and London to replace the musicians sacked from the orchestra.The Musicians’ Union (MU) has joined with other unions around the world in condemning the actions of the OSB and calling for members to boycott the auditions. The International Federation of Musicians (FIM) has also put out a statement.

RLPO musicians will hand Minczuk a letter urging him and the OSB to enter into proper dialogue with the Rio Union to find a mutually satisfactory conclusion. They also intend towrite to their colleagues in Rio, expressing solidarity.

Morris Stemp, MU North of England Organiser says:“Classical musicians from around the world have roundly condemned the action taken by OSB management, and the support our members have shown for their counterparts in Rio de Janeiro is to be applauded. Our members, through us, call upon the OSB to rethink their position and come back to the table for face to face talks with the Rio Musicians’ Union (SINDMUSI). The attitudes taken by the OSB Board and Mr Minczuk demonstrate that they do not understand how a modern orchestra functions.

The failure to pursue a mutually acceptable outcome could have a profoundly detrimental effect on classical music provision in Brazil, and could also affectRoberto Minczuk’s ability to work with our colleagues across the world. It is imperative that conductors have the support and co-operation of the musicians around them at any given time. Without this, conductors wave their arms in silence.

It’s Independence Day in Israel, Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Just the moment for the Israel Philharmonic to announce a new principal guest conductor, Gianandrea Noseda.

Well Zubin Mehta’s 75. Time to think of the future.

Noseda had ten good years with the BBC in Manchester and is putting in his opera years in Torino.

From the press announcement, it seems the Israelis think he might be the next Toscanini.

Here’s the text:

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is proud to announce the appointment of Gianandrea Noseda as Chief Guest Conductor beginning with the 2011 – 2012 season. Noseda will join a very prestigious list of Italian conductors to be associated with this great orchestra, including Giulini, Abbado, Sinopoli and Muti. It was seventy-five years ago that the legendary Arturo Toscanini founded the Palestine Symphony Orchestra which is today’s Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

When the appointment was announced, Avi Shoshani, Secretary General of the IPO, said: “It was only the natural continuation of the beautiful relationship established between Gianandrea and the orchestra. The music-making and the harmony between us, has proven to be something quite creative and I know the future will lead us to many exciting concert performances and various activities”.

“I am honoured to have the chance to give continuity to my musical relationship with the members of the IPO”, said Noseda who has recently conducted the IPO in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Gustav Mahler’s death. “To be a part of this great orchestra’s musical history and future is humbling for me. I thank Maestro Mehta, the orchestra and the administration for this exciting opportunity”.

As Chief Guest Conductor, Maestro Noseda will regularly appear with the IPO in Israel and participate in other future projects.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, cheeky little chipmunks, have launched their new season on Youtube.

Has no-one told them this is classical music, serious stuff, not for browsers?

It looks like another first for those enterprising scousers, bless their cotton socks.

Here’s the link. Only 66 views so far… but watch for the Slipped Disc effect.

Is that a baroque bow you’re using, Alexandra Parker?

I mean, bad enough to play over Bond’s recorded track as if it’s your own, but you can’t surely be posing as a period performance expert?

You just don’t look the part. This is a baroque violinist:

Anything to get an audience, enterprising mezzo-soprano Claudia Herr and composer Susanne Stelzenbach are playing their new show from the bottom of a swimming pool filled with rubbish bins. The  music comes to you through special body mikes, linked to poolside amps.

Here‘s what it looks like.

And here’s the link.

Non-UK readers, look away. This is strictly for citizens of the green and pleasant (I think).

The BBC, delving for grass roots, is appealing for amateur musicians from all over the land to play in a new recording of the signature tune of its longest-running daily soap – you know what it is: The Archers.

You can access the score and record any part for free. I would love to play an Ondes Martenot obbligato, but can’t find one. I’ll have to volunteer for a walk-on part in the show. Might write it myself: non-driving urban type, middle-aged gent, staggers into the Bull, desperate for a Nelson (work it out, used to be called a Johnny). Sid bars his way. Much comic embarrassment.

Here’s the press release:

BBC Radio 3 invites musicians to play The Archers’ theme tune for online orchestra performance

Radio 3 is inviting amateur musicians all over the country to be part of an online orchestra for a performance of The Archers theme tune. The melody Barwick Green is recognisable to millions of dedicated Radio 4 Archers listeners and is one of the great classics of British Light Music. Now amateur musicians can go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 and record one of the 23 orchestral parts under the direction of conductor Gavin Sutherland. The recordings will be mixed into a complete performance for broadcast as part of Radio 3’s Light Fantastic – a celebration of British Light Music taking place 24 – 27 June, 2011.

The orchestral parts of The Archers’ theme are available to download free at www.bbc.co.uk/radio3. Individual players are then invited to upload their performances which will subsequently form one online orchestra performance.  Complete instructions are available online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 and to help everyone keep time, a guide video of the BBC Concert Orchestra and its conductor will be available to play along to.

Radio 3 Editor Edwina Wolstencroft said, ‘The Archers’ theme tune is one of the best known and loved pieces of British light music. The online orchestra performance is one way of involving people all over the country by re-connecting them with this rich and rewarding vein of music in a creative, practical and fun way.’

For further information Talia.Hull@bbc.co.uk
Notes to Editors

• • Light Fantastic is a BBC Radio 3 festival celebrating British light orchestral music, centred around a summer weekend (24-27 June). During the weekend, live concerts will be broadcast from a working warehouse in Salford (a re-creation of radio’s long-running Music While You Work concerts, first heard during World War II) and from London’s South Bank Centre, as part of the SBC’s Festival of Britain 60^th anniversary celebrations. SBC concerts include performances conducted by John Wilson, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the John Wilson Orchestra.
  • BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Archers’ – the world’s longest-running soap opera – celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2011.
  • The signature theme for the ‘The Archers’ is by Arthur Wood (1875-1953) an English composer and conductor; the theme’s proper name is ‘Barwick Green’, a maypole dance from the suite My Native Heath.  The version available for download is an arrangement by Roy Moore.
  • Recordings will be broadcast subject to Radio 3’s normal editorial criteria.
  • Further information about Radio 3’s Light Fantastic is attached.