New York or Berlin: Which is better for musicians?

New York or Berlin: Which is better for musicians?

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norman lebrecht

June 15, 2016

The violinist Jennifer Koh (pictured) tells WQXR that she weighed the two options and chose New York for its creativity.

Our string quartet diarist Anthea Kreston is having a whale of a time in Berlin – at least she was until yesterday’s incident – and prefers smalltown environments to New York.

So where’s better for a fiddle person to live – a city that doesn’t break your arm to pay health care? or one that promises the sky and sometimes delivers?

Your call.

jennifer-koh

Comments

  • RW2013 says:

    Which is better?
    Berlin I would say,
    because it’s not in
    the U.S. and A.

  • harold braun says:

    New York.

  • Ann Nomynous says:

    No contest: Europe over US anytime, not to even mention Berlin before anything else.

  • NYMike says:

    Line out of the song, NY, NY – “if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere”………

  • Doug says:

    New York: if you’re interested in making money in the US “industry” at the cost of your sanity and soul, of course.
    Berlin: if you’re interested in a rapidly declining quality of life.

  • David Boxwell says:

    Berlin has 3 major opera companies, New York: 1. No contest!

  • MWnyc says:

    Norman, this was on WNYC, not WQXR.

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