James Levine has pulled out of two Berlin concerts next week. Usual reasons.

Daniel Barenboim steps in.

Here‘s the German source.

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that it is quitting the Salzburg Easter Festival, after next year.

Apparently, it has been made a better offer by the festival at Baden-Baden and the musicians voted to take the money. They demanded that Salzburg put on four new productions at Easter, knowing full well that there was insufficient time to raise finance for such an expansion. Baden-Baden, which is privately and somewhat opaquely funded, had already met this requirement.

Simon Rattle, the chief conductor, was not consulted.

The German press has reported the walkout from the orchestra’s perspective, citing among other causes a declining Easter audience at Salzburg and dissatisfaction with this season’s controversial Salome production. Next season’s Carmen will end 45 years of collaboration, begun when Herbert von Karajan founded the festival in 1967.

The mayor of Salzburg has described the decision as a breach of contract and is consulting lawyers. The festival’s director, Peter Alward, has expressed deep disappointment.

This, though, is just the beginning. Alward told me this morning that he is ‘bloodied but not bowed’ and has several initiatives in hand to replace Berlin with an orchestra of equal value. Perhaps, I added, also of better manners.

I shall report more of the sanguinary background in a little while.

The National Orchestra of Lyon in France, with conductor Jun Märkl, have cancelled next month’s tour of Japan after ‘extensive consultations with musicians and staff’, who expressed ‘disquiet’ about travelling in the recent earthquake and tsunami zone.

The musicians of Lyon had received assurances that there was no risk to life or health. They had also been advised of the importance of showing solidarity to the Japanese people at this moment. None of these arguments, however, prevailed with the comfort-conscious musicians and crew.

This would have been Lyon’s third trip to Japan, scheduled for June 5-14. They should not be invited back.

Japanese audiences and managers will want to hear more of orchestras like the Seoul Philharmonic that rushed to bring comfort and support.

 

The cellist of the Beaux Arts Trio from its foundation in 1955 to his retirement 32 years later, has died at Cape Cod, aged 95.

With pianist Menahem Pressler and violinist Daniel Guilet (succeeded in 1968 by Isidore Cohen), he formed part of the busiest piano trio on record, the most popular and authoritative. Menahem is the last surviving member of the group’s heyday.

Here’s a youtube clip of Casals’ Song of the Birds that Bernard made just three months ago and here’s the trio in full flight, playing the Ravel trio. Respect.

There’s going to be some ice broken at Carnegie Hall on May 30.

The Danish accordionist Bjarke Mogensen will be making his debut in works by Sofia Gubaidulina, Sergei Prokofiev, Domenico Scarlatti, a world premiere by the young British composer, Nick Martin, as well as works by the Danish composers Martin Lohse and Ole Schmidt.

It appears to be the first time in a hundred-odd years the hall has heard a classical accordion. Anyone notice? Anyone awake in the press office?Hello…. I know it’s Friday but there might be a story here.

Mogensen is a phenomenon in Denmark and and an astonishment on record: once heard never forgotten.

Even if Carnegie fails to notice, don’t miss the recital.

In the second half, Mogensen will be joined by Rasmus Kjøller as the duo MYTHOS. They will perform a piece titled Views from a
Dutch Train, by the composer Jacob Ter Veldhuis. The concert will end with the duo’s own arrangement of Stravinskys famous ballet from 1911, Petrushka. Bring it on. 

While in the US the duo will also perform a private recital for the Queen of Denmark who is in Washington with the RoyalDanish Ballet.

Jonas Kaufmann and Olga Borodina have withdrawn from the Met’s tour of Japan. Borodina has ‘vocal issues’.

Kaufmann’s excuse? ‘Personal reasons’. Oh, so that’s all right then.

Music director James Levine is already out for all the obvious reasons.

This tour is stating to feel more than a little half-hearted.

The replacements for the two dropout singers are Yonghoon Lee and Ekaterina Gubanova, evidently the best available at short notice.

It does make you wish the Met showed half as much enthusiasm for the visit to stricken Japan as the Korean musicians just did.

 

Bookmakers across Sussex are taking bets on the identity of the charming young lady on the left in Grayson Perry’s festival cover.

Since superinjunctions are being sought by several eminent singers of the recent past, some of whom should feel seriously flattered by the representation, the best we can do is narrow down the search to one of the following categories (complete with current odds).

Who is she?

1 A member of the Glyndebourne household, 5/1

2 A member of the household cavalry, 11/2

3 A member of the marketing department, (hot tip, 8/1)

4 One of Gareth Malone’s work experience singers, 12/1

5 The next Donna Anna, 16/1

6 One of the cleaning staff, 25/1

7 Susan Boyle, 33/1

8 A member of the audience, 100/1

The appalling euphemism ‘comfort women’ has soured relations between Japanese and Koreans ever since the occupying power abused human rights on an appalling scale during the Second World War.

But time can heal, and so does music.

The Korean conductor Myung Whun Chung was in Japan with the Czech Philharmonic when the earthquake and tsunamis struck. His orchestra was airlifted out by the Czech army over his frustrated objections, but he was determined to return. Other musical organisations cancelled their visits to Japan for the rest of the year.

A tour had already been discussed with the Seoul Philharmonic. A sponsor was found, the Woori Bank of Korea. Musicians, staff and all connected with the orchestra gave their services for free as a gesture of human solidarity with the Japanese people.  The young Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji (who was meant to play with the Czech Phil.) joined the party.

The tour ended in emotional scenes at Suntory Hall last night. At the final concert, 17 musicians from the Tokyo Philharmonic joined the ensemble as well as the Principal Cellist from the NHK. ‘I have never seen anything so emotional in a concert hall,’ SPO artistic advisor Michael Fine tells me. ‘The orchestra was called back after leaving the stage post-encore and then Myung Whun as well. People wouldn’t stop applauding. Aside from the money we will contribute, the simple gesture of being here is apparently important, considering the antique enmity between Korea and Japan as well as the current disputes.’

Music has the power to bring harmony between nations. Every now and then, it does.

The cover of the 2011 Glyndebourne Festival programme is a far cry from the English pastoralities of bygone years.

It’s by Grayson Perry, the cross-dressing, Turner-winning potter, and it takes off more frocks than it dons.

Indecorous, in parts, and richly self-mocking in a post-modern way, it was unveiled a few minutes ago on twitter.

You wanna see?

Oh, all right then.

The last time I discussed cultural policy with the man who is now Mayor of London, he turned up late on his bike and I paid for the wine. Tonight, he’s in the chair, but still soaking up the kudos.

What Boris Johnson is announcing is a new fund to boost music lessons for children in London. There will be £2 million ($3m)  in the kitty by next year and a host of worthies, some nominated by me, to make sure the money is wisely spent. Nothing of the kind has been attempted before in this country. Boris, not always the straightest face in the mugshots, is sold on the idea of elevating children through exposure to the arts.

Here’s what some of the good guys are saying about it.

“The launch of MFYM is something quite wonderful.  It shows a trust in the power and value of great music, and a trust in the young people who will benefit from this scheme, joining excellence and the highest standards with the widest possible access.  Applause all round!” Stephen Hough, pianist and MFYM Patron


“This wonderful initiative has arrived not a day too soon. At last a chance for young people with a curiosity for music to really have an opportunity to try their hand and realise a creativity previously reserved for others more financially fortunate than themselves.” Chi-chi Nwanoku, Double Bass player and MFYM Patron

I fully support the Mayor’s Fund for Young Musicians and recognise that implemented responsibly it will improve access to music making at the highest level for all children in all genres. This in my mind is as it should be and will enrich their lives and all of ours, now and in the future. Julian Joseph, Jazz pianist and MFYM Patron

Music can transform a child’s life in so many ways. A child singing to him or herself is a happy child. The benefits of studying music – emotional, social and intellectual – are well documented. The Mayor’s Fund for Young Musicians will encourage as many children as possible to tap into those benefits, and to follow their musical dreams. Steven Isserlis, cellist and MFYM Patron

 

 

 

 

Here’s my Levine piece from a couple of weeks back, published in Shanghai where classical interest is sophisticated and growing by millions.

2011?05?12? ?437?

?????????

?/??·????? ?/??

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

???·??

 

??????????????????????????????????????????????·???James Levine??????????

???????????40????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????·????Kathleen Battle?????·?????Catherine Malfitano?????·???Samuel Ramey?????????·????Renée Fleming?????·????Thomas Hampson?????·????James Morris??

??1996????????1943????????????????????????68????1500????????????????????????·???????????40???????????“??????????????????????????????????”?????????????????????????????????????????????????“???”???????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????·????Harvey Sachs????????????????????“???????????”?

???????????????????????????????·??????????????????????????Hugo Boss????????????????????????????????????????????????????20????????????????????????????????????????????

???1990-2006????????·????Joseph Volpe???????????????“???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????”??·????????????????????????????????????“??????????”?????????????????????????

????????????·????Milton Babbitt???????????????????????????????????????·????6??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????40??????????????1971?6????????????????????????27????????????????????????????????

???????????·???????????????????????????1973???????????????????????????????????????????·?????Ronald Wilford????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????70??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????·????John Harbison???????????????????????·????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????1999-2004???????????????????????????????????“????”??17????????????

2001????????????????2004????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????2006????????????????????????????????????????????????2010???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

????????????BBC????????

 

Stats just in show BBC Radio 3 on its highest weekly reach for seven years.

The all-classical and high culture station – where I conduct the Lebrecht Interview – had 2.26 million listeners in the last quarter, up 11.5% year on year, according to the montoring agency Rajar.

At a programme level, reach to Breakfast was up to 903K listeners (+11% on the quarter). Afternoon on 3 was up 117K to 778,000, and In Tune was up 65K to 620,000. Weekend programmes that increased reach this quarter include CD Review and The Choir.

Overall, BBC Radio reached a record 35.07 million people per week, 67.3% of the population.