When the maestro goes on tour, he takes no chances. Here, in Tokyo last weekend, is Thielemann with his medical team – four physicians and scientists from the Medical University of Vienna who performed Beethoven ninth with the Vienna Philharmonic (one concert in Kawasaki, one at Suntory Hall in Tokyo). These 2 concerts were part of the Wiener Phil Asia tour with Thielemann performing the Beethoven symphony cycle.
L-R: Dr. Thomas Prikoszovich (Nephrologist, Singverein baritone), Prof. Dr. Bernhard Voller (Neurologist, Singverein tenor), Maestro Christian Thielemann, Ass.Prof. Dr. Dietrich Haubenberger (Neurologist, Singverein) and Dr. Manfred Hecking (Nephrologist, Wr. Philharmoniker)
The fellowship and organist at New College, Oxford, is as close as it gets to an archbishop’s post in music.
Edward Higginbottom is retiring, we hear.
The seat’s vacant. Apply here.
New College, Oxford, in association with The Faculty of Music in the University of Oxford, proposes to appoint a Tutorial Fellow in Music and Organist at New College, with a University Lectureship in Music, with effect from 1 September 2014, or as soon as possible thereafter. The combined University and College salary will be on a scale from £43,312 to £58,157 per annum (as at 1 August 2012). Additional allowances are provided by the College.
The Watford employment tribunal, considering a claim for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination, has demanded the recall of Peter Crook to give evidence at a 13-day hearing in May. Mr Crook disappeared from the school with a £200,000 payoff after being videod in what appeared to be inappropriate conversations with students. His testimony would cause extreme embarrassment to the institution.
In this week’s tribunal hearing, barrister Tom Coghlin successfully argued that there had been a four year campaign of events against a teacher, Ian McMillan, initiated by the former Head Peter Crook and continued after Mr McMillan’s dismissal by the current Head, David Thomas.
Mr Coghlin highlighted numerous examples of discrimination by the school towards Mr McMillan.
Access was requested by Mr McMillan to an Independent Review commissioned by Purcell school Governors in September 2009, following two investigations by Watford Police and Hertfordshire Social Services which resulted into the dismissal of Head Peter Crook in October 2011. It is thought the report contains homophobic evidence relevant to this case. Forty eight members of staff at the school contributed to this report, which was conducted by two retired Headmasters. The Review has never been made available to staff or new Governors.
It is proposed to call Mr Crook to the full Tribunal in May, next year, and the logistics of bringing him from Dubai, where he is now still teaching in a British school, was discussed.
It just gets worse and worse for the Purcell.
Bennett Reimer, professor of Northwestern University and one of the foremost propagators of the public need for music education, has died, aged 81.
He was among the authors of the first National Standards for Music Education in 1994. His book, A Philosophy of Music Education, published in 1970, was translated into French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Greek.
New research claims to show that audiences are more attentive to musical improvisation than to scripted performance. Really? We’ll ask the leading improviser (pictured).
Here’s the summary. And here’s some video.
Nicole Cabell is in Detroit, rehearsing Traviata.
But when they offered her the usual five-star downtown, she demurred. She’d found Suzanne Scoville’s duck farm and is much more comfortable there. Read.
This weekend at the Kennedy Center, Fleming has put together a celebration of genuine American vocal achievements. It’s called American Voices and it celebrates the diversity of American signing styles — spanning pop, country, musical theater, classical music, gospel and jazz.
She’s been chatting about it to fans on Reddit. Some gleanings:
– I think performers now are getting away from the straight jacketed limitations of genre, and wanting to stretch more – sometimes it works, and sometimes not – however, there’s no substitute for focusing fully on the thing you want to be best at first – there just aren’t enough hours in the day…
– I have a spreadsheet of about 120 (US) composers, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg – there are so many worthy and cultivated composers out there – wish there was as much interest from the public in hearing new things – I’m currently excited about Jimmy Lopez and Bel Canto – we are producing his first opera in Chicago, and it’s exciting indeed!
– Taste can be developed at any time – I discovered that I loved contemporary music when I was a student; obsessed with Stravinsky and George Crumb. Same with artistry and interpretation, however, your job as a student is to understand and absorb as much information from your experienced professors, coaches and teachers as you can – no sense in disagreeing with them, although offering your own opinion can give an opportunity for discussion. They’re trying to help – and there’s plenty of time for you ultimately to absorb what you’re learning and send it back out through the prism of your own thoughts, opinions and experience….. hope that’s helpful?
Seiji Ozawa came to visit the Berlin Phil in Tokyo.
We were particularly pleased to see this VIP visitor: Our old friend Seiji Ozawa listens backstage to our performance of Boulez’ Notations in Tokyo. Also on the programme: Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony.
Über diesen Stargast haben wir uns besonders gefreut: Unser alter Freund Seiji Ozawa hört sich backstage unsere Aufführung von Boulez’ Notations in Tokio an. Ebenfalls auf dem Programm: Bruckners Siebte Symphonie.
Photos: Monika Rittershaus
We hear he also came backstage at Suntory Hall to see the Wiener Philharmoniker, Singverein and Christian Thielemann the previous night, after Beethoven’s 9th.
Milwaukee photographer Rick Wood has been given all-areas access for a full working day with the musicians. His image galley is intimate and often unexpectedly touching. Watch here.
Violinists Joanna Grosshans and Alexander Ayers tune up for “Fliter Plays Chopin” at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. photo (c) Rick Wood
A former conductor of the Ulster Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic has been named as one of four men bailed by Greater Manchester Police in the course of investigations into child abuse at Chetham’s and the Royal Northern College of Music during the 1970s and 1980s. The other three have been previously named by police.
Nicholas Smith, 65, of Macclesfield, Cheshire, had his bail extended yesterday to February 2014. He has been questioned about alleged offences against a girl of 15.
Police said they were investigating 10 key suspects. None has yet been charged. Presumptions of innocence apply.
