We hear that the deeply troubled Sydney Conservatorium of Music has chosen its next dean, to be announced later this week.
The last two deans, Kim Walker and Karl Kramer departed in contentious circumstances in 2011 and 2015.
One both occasions, an insider called Anna Reid was appointed acting dean.
She has now been chosen as dean in her own right, preferred over two well-qualified outsider.
The opera review by Arthur Kaptainis that provoked a protest from Canadian Opera Company and an instant takedown by the National Post has suddenly been put back online.
Someone seems to realises they crossed a line.
Read the review here.
The COC has published it own version on Slipped Disc of the events that led to Arthur Kaptainis’s deprature as music critic of the National Post.
According to Jennifer Pugsley, Media Relations Manager for the COC, she wrote to the Post seeking two corrections – one for a photographer’s credit and the other an alleged misrepresentation of a scene in the opera involving Anna in Act II when she is brought into Maometto II’s tent. Arthur’s review describes the moment as “When she removes this encumbrance she is treated to a striptease by a nearby ballerina. I wish I could tell you why.” There is no way that the dancer could be considered a ballerina. She’s clearly a belly dancer.
So far, so reasonable.
In reply, the Post editor over-reacted: Oh, wow. I will take it down immediately, and wait until we have the time to adjust it to put it back up again. I would love to talk about coverage with you, and if I wasn’t in the middle of hiring two new people for my section, I would’ve tried to schedule something before this. I really hate running reviews for performing arts. They simply get no attention online, and almost always end up as our poorest performing pieces of digital content.
And that’s it? Not quite.
Jennifer in her first email to the Post seeks to pile pressure on Kaptainis and possibly unseat him:
I have to confess that Arthur’s reviews continue to baffle many of us at the COC. His opinion is his opinion, and he’s entitled to it, all we ask for from our critics is a fair and open-minded consideration of what we present on our stage. It’s becoming more and more challenging to see that kind of thoughtfulness in his reviews. This is a sentiment that we’ve pointed out to your predecessors. While we are coming to the end of the COC’s 15/16 season, the way opinions are expressed in this latest review make me want to flag the matter with you sooner rather than later.
If there’s an opportunity to discuss the matter more thoroughly with you, we would welcome it.
She’s telling the Post: we don’t like your critic. The Post promptly pulls his review.
Strong, independent press? Doesn’t look like it.
The leading American violinist Itzhak Perlman has called a boycott of North Carolina over its gender and disabilities legislation.
He writes: As my fans know, I have spent a lifetime advocating against discrimination towards those with physical disabilities and have been a vocal advocate for treating all people equally. As such, after great consideration, I have decided to cancel my May 18th concert in North Carolina with the North Carolina Symphony as a stand against House Bill 2. As Attorney General Loretta Lynch recently stated, HB2 “is about a great deal more than just bathrooms. [It] is about the dignity and respect we accord our fellow citizens.” I couldn’t agree more and will look forward to returning to North Carolina when this discriminatory law is repealed.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is rolling out summer lunchtime concerts at $5 a ticket.
Sample programme:
TITO MUÑOZ, Conductor
JON KIMURA PARKER, Piano
Bernstein – Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
Dvorák – Symphony No. 9 (“New World”), Movement 2
Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue
All for $5, Thursdays at Hilbert Circle Theatre.
Why wouldn’t you?
Arthur Kapitainis is probably the most respected music critic in Canada.
Just not by the Canadian Opera Company.
When COC read his review for Mametto II online in the National Post they sent over a complaint to demand its removal (recte: two corrections). Unbelievably, the weak-kneed newspaper obliged. (see Comments below for COC account of events).
Arthur promptly resigned from the paper. Our friends at MusicalToronto have now published his review.
Read it here.
It’s not a particularly tough review. What glue are they sniffing at COC?
This is a major press freedom issue. Cancel the National Post until it apologises and beware of an opera company that is able to reduce national media to submission.
UPDATE: The COC’s side of the story.
CORRECTION: An initial version of the story said the COC sent a delegation to the Post. It was based on a trusted source and it was unfounded. We corrected the error as soon as we were informed, and regret its occurrence.
Arthur Kaptainis is probably the most respected music critic in Canada.
Just not by the Canadian Opera Company.
When COC read his review for Mametto II online in the National Post they called in and demanded its removal (recte: two corrections. see here). Unbelievably, the weak-kneed newspaper obliged.
Arthur promptly resigned from the paper. Our friends at MusicalToronto have published his review.
Read it here.
It’s not a particularly tough review. What glue are they sniffing at COC?
This is a major press freedom issue. Cancel the National Post until it apologises and beware of an opera company that is able to reduce national media to submission.
Robin Ticciati was distressed to miss the company’s pening production of Meistersinger as a result of a herniated disc.
He is still recovering from surgery and will be unable to conduct the next show, Béatrice et Bénédict.
Antonello Manacorda will deputise. He is Principal Conductor of the Kammerakademie Potsdam and the Het Gelders Orkest in the Netherlands.
There has been much misreporting of detail – including on this site – of the complex judicial situation surrounding the conviction of Siegfried Mauser, former rector of the Munich Academy, of sexual assault.
A Munich observer has compiled the following fact chart:
– Siegfried Mauser was found guilty of one of two counts. Some German papers have that wrong, and state guilty on both counts.
– Re. the second count, the court found that the plaintiff could not demonstrate sufficiently that she had offered sufficient resistance to his advances.
– Sixteen witness were called. In the sense of not witnessing the events in question, but of giving evidence of their experiences. Or of corroborating hearsay evidence.<
– Mauser was thus sentenced on the first count of “sexual assault”.
– He received 1 year and 3 months on probation. Also he was fined € 25,000 and will give this to a charity IMMA: Initiative für Münchner Mädchen (Initiative for Munich Young Women)
– The court’s decision has not yet become res judicata and is therefore not yet enforceable
– His lawyers are now discussing whether or not to appeal. They announced immediately after the trial that they would.
– The trial went faster than expected, the result was originally expected to be announced on 31 May.
– The judge, before delivering his verdict on Mauser: “Mit Verlaub, Herr Rektor, Sie sind ein Grapscher…. With all due respect, Mr President, you are a groper.”
“Möglicherweise fühlen Sie sich sexuell so attraktiv wie James Bond. Da überschätzen Sie sich aber in Ihrer Wirkung.” Possibly, you feel yourself to be as sexually attractive as James Bond. You overrate, however, the effect you have [on people].”
Click here for instant video, or here (at 12:00) for longer report.
ZDF will tonight show a 30 minute documentary on Stefan Arzberger, the former leader of the Leipzig String Quartet who has been unable to leave New York for more than a year after being charged with attempted murder of a fellow-hotel guest.
You can watch it here at 2215 Europe time.
Good to see there is one critic left who can still claim expenses.
Music and culture writer Sasha Frere-Jones has abruptly exited the L.A. Times after less than a year amid allegations of expense-account shenanigans involving a strip club and accepting expensive freebies from sources.
“Yes, Sasha Frere-Jones resigned recently,” a representative for the Times told TheWrap via email on Monday…
Keep on reading here.
