In the late 1970s, classical recording was in the doldrums. The same old conductors were re-recording the same old works, issued on LPs that were so faulty the customer return rate was over 40 percent.
In November 1979, a father-and-son team of sound engineers from Essex, Brian and Ralph Couzens, founded Chandos Records. Sound quality was outstanding from the outset and the LP manufacture was vastly superior to the major labels, which were forced to upgrade their product. These differences were soon ironed out by the advent of CD in 1983, but the point was made and widely taken that Chandos stood for genuine high-fidelity values and the industry as a whole was uplifted by its standards.
An early focus on neglected English music – Bax, in particular – won a deep foothold in the home market. Orchestras in Scotland, Ulster and Wales were the label’s workhorses. Neeme Järvi covered vast swathes of repertoire, Mariss Jansons made his name on Chandos.
Brian’s second act of salvation came ten years later. Peter Andry, former head of EMI, had joined Warner with a brief to create a major label overnight. Wielding a multinational chequebook, he hoovered up half a dozen labels – Erato, Teldec, Finlandia, NVC and more. Then he met Brian Couzens, who refused his lavish overtures. So did Ted Perry at Hyperion. The corporate march was halted. Independent recording was saved.
Brian Couzens died on Friday, aged 82. He earned the lasting gratitude of all who love recorded music.
photo: family
We’ve had a tip-off from Lyon that Serge Dorny has been shortlisted for the vacancy of BBC Proms chief.
The Belgian, who was sacked last year by the Semper Oper in Dresden before he could take up the job, has a history of talking up his chances for posts across the music world, so we need to take this tip with a chunk of salt. It may be no more than self-puffery.
However, Dorny has form in the UK as a past head of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He may have a few locals who are pushing his name for the Proms. He is unsettled at Lyon Opera and has chameleon qualities that may play well with the present characterless administration at the BBC.
On the other hand, the BBC job will pay less than half of his Lyon salary.
No date has been set for announcing a new Proms boss. The job has been vacant since Roger Wright left last June.
UPDATE: Dorny, in London this week, has denied being in the running for the BBC Proms job. The pay is too poor.
A study at the University of Southern Denmark has found that peer pressure and competitive stress shortens the lives of creative people. ‘Competition has a negative and significant impact on longevity,’ said Dr Karol Jan Borowiecki.
He went on to say: ‘The stress intensified when they were living in the same cities as their peers. It is likely, for example, that limited access to concert halls may have triggered increased stress levels, especially in cities with a greater number of other composers.’
Do we believe a word of this pointless academic speculation?
The comic genius never strayed far from his fiddle. He played it in two films and composed for it throughout his life. He was a friend of Arnold Schoenberg and Jascha Heifetz.
Ariane Todes has made a study of Chaplin’s private passion here and here.
A paper presented at the Sleep and Breathing Conference 2015 in Barcelona suggests that playing the flute can cure or prevent the sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnoea.
A team of Indian researchers tested lung function in 64 people who played a wind instrument and 65 who did not. There was no significant difference in lung function, but those who played snored less.
It may also help to play the flute at the person who is snoring. Varese Density 21.5 is a pretty good deterrent.
We regret to report the death today of Brian Couzens, founder of the Chandos label. He was 82.
From an inauspicious base in Colchester, Essex, starting in 1979, he launched numerous international conducting careers – Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi, Jiri Belohlavek, Edward Gardner, Gianandrea Noseda and many more.
His repertoire tastes were broad and adventurous. Arvo Pärt and Mieczyslaw Weinberg made early appearances on Chandos, along with much neglected English music.
Uninterested in personal glory, Brian left the label in the capable hands of his son, Ralph. Our respects to his memory and sympathies to the family. Many artists will feel sad tonight.
UPDATE: How Brian Couzens twice saved the record business here.
Brian Couzens (l.) with Sir Charles Mackerras and son, Ralph.
Fascinating story on the struggle of baritone Jason Duika, who suffers up to 500 ticks a day but has graduated from IU Jacobs School of Music and is starting a professional career. Read here.
And watch Jason explain how he overcomes the condition.
New School’s Mannes College of Music Prep has suspended David Oei, 64, after he was charged with forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. Oei is accused of groping a 15 year-old female student during a private lesson at his West 57th apartment.
He denies the charge, which has shocked a wide circle of musicians in and around the city. Oei, who has taught at the New School for 15 years, is also involved with Bennington. Friends believe him incapable of the alleged offence.
His wife, the violinist Eriko Sato, hugged her husband as he was allowed to leave court on his own cognisance. He will appear there again on May 11.
We may be reaching the point where unchaperoned lessons in a teacher’s apartment are simply inadvisable.
We hear that Mahan Esfahani is flying out to Chicago the week after next for his US orchestral debut.
The South African Kristian Bezuidenhout was due to play the Poulenc concerto but has pulled out for health reasons. Not many in Illinois have the Poulenc under their fingers. Mahan knows the piece back to front, is an Iranian-born US citizen and is about to release a Steve Reich/J S Bach disc on DG.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy or at a better time.
No more sitting on the fence.
A source in South Korea tells us that three days ago police raided the offices of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra for a second time.
A prosecutor was in attendance, explaining that this was an investigation into an alleged conspiracy against the former chief executive Hyunjung Park. Ms Park left the orchestra after a petition of 17 employees was published in December 2014, accusing her of bullying, sexual harassment and violation of human rights.
Two days ago, there was a further police raid on the home of a Seoul Philharmonic employee. The individual concerned is four months pregnant and required medical attention.
On the same day, this employee and another staff member received a letter from the Korean Ministry of Justice informing them that they are banned from leaving the country during the course of the investigation.
Ms Park, a member of one of Korea’s ruling families, is conducting a vendetta against the orchestra and its music director Myung Whun Chung. Justice has nothing to do with the case. South Korea is starting to look like a police state.
Karl Kramer has quit as dean of the Sydney Conservatorium on the eve of its centenary. His letter has just gone out, late on Friday night, in the hope of minimising media attention over the weekend. The reasons? He’s not saying, but there have been rumbling personnel issues and accusations of bullying at the Con. Read the letter.
I notified Michael Spence Thursday that I will be resigning my position as dean of the Sydney Conservatorium effective July 17, 2015. For personal and family reasons, Jean and I will be returning to the United States. There will be a smooth and orderly transition over the next three months.
After 26 continuous years without a break of chairing, directing, and deaning in higher education, it is time for me to take a respite and consider my future plans. I want to thank everyone in the faculty for their hard work and perseverance, for joining me in pursuing a vision of musical excellence, and for congealing into a unified and trusting staff to serve the students and our art.
I am leaving the faculty in excellent shape artistically, and the morale of the school has improved markedly since my arrival. There is still work to be done; however, our student body is incredibly talented, our academic staff is world-class in its teaching and research, our professional staff is expert, clever and indefatigable, and our building is in excellent logistical condition. In addition, as a co-founder of the Pacific Alliance of Music Schools the Con holds a leadership position in the pantheon of tertiary music institutions in the region.
The future of the Con is indeed bright and I wish you all the very best.
Most sincerely,
PROFESSOR KARL KRAMER | Dean and Principal Sydney Conservatorium of Music
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Jessica Krash has been laid off after 28 years teaching piano at George Washington University. ‘They are decimating the (music) department,’ she tells us, ‘laying off many of the adjuncts, or reducing people’s hours to practically nothing.’
Underpaid and unappreciated, Dr Krash has written a letter to the Washington Post, noting that the George Washington University president and vice president are both earning over $1,000,000 a year. The suits swiftly responded with the usual equivocations. Read Jessica’s letter here. And share this. Music is at risk in the US capital.
