The Union of Composers and Musicologists in Romania reports the death on Friday of Adrian Enescu, an award-winning crossover composer with many films to his credit.
Adrian loved cats.
(So did some other composers).
One tends to think of early-instrument craftsmen as organic lefties who live on the vegan side of the political spectrum.
Not in Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic), where one of the country’s leading harpsichord makers is running for the Senate on the ticket of a kick-out-all-immigrants-and-Roma party.
Here’s the man, Petr Sefl.
This is his company. And this is his party, Dawn of Direct Democracy, linked to the German far-right.
The Czech harpsichord community is outraged.
press release:
Montclair, NJ – A new orchestra has been established in the New York City suburb of Montclair, New Jersey. The Montclair Orchestra will be a semi-professional full orchestra, with players to include local area professional musicians, conservatory level students, as well as highly trained amateurs. An inaugural 2017-2018 season is in the planning, with full orchestral concert repertoire ranging from traditional classical works from Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms to modern pieces and film scores of twentieth century and contemporary composers.
The Montclair Orchestra is the concept of Montclair resident Andre Weker, a classically trained pianist and former orchestral musician. “When our family recently relocated to Montclair, one of the things that drew us to the area was the incredible amount of culture and support for the arts we saw in town,” says Weker. “It was clear that an orchestra would be an ideal complement to the other diverse cultural offerings in Montclair, and people in town have been extremely enthusiastic in the support of the project.”
The original “Montclair Orchestra” was established in 1922, with its first concert being held at the Montclair Art Museum. That ensemble merged with other groups in the region, eventually moving to Newark and becoming what is today the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Since then, there are many musical performances and concert series taking place regularly in venues throughout Montclair, but a permanent orchestra has never been re-established, until now.
In addition to Weker, others involved in the startup include Robert Cart, the Director of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, and Rose Cali, a patron of the arts who also has ties to the Montclair Art Museum and Montclair Film Festival. “One of the goals of The Montclair Orchestra is to become a permanent fixture within the community,” says Cart. “Our goal is to build ties with the residents of the town, in addition to collaborating with the other local institutions such as the Art Museum and the Film Festival. The Montclair Orchestra will also help MSU strengthen its ties to the community at large, with our students becoming more acquainted with residents and venues in town, and in response residents attending concerts at the University’s venues.”
A search for a Music Director has begun, and auditions for musicians will be held in the spring of 2017.
Apply here. No rush yet.
Emmanuel Ceysson – him with the red harp – has joined Mannes School of Music as professor of harp.
Watch those student numbers rise.
Jacques Attali – former adviser to President Mitterand, international banker and would-be orchestra conductor – has been offering his views on modernism.
Je crois personnellement que la musique atonale est une impasse, elle ne correspond pas à la nature même de l’audition, elle a constitué une tentative de « terrorisme musical » qui ne correspond pas à la nature profonde de ce qu’est la musique. En dehors de ça toutes les musiques qui sont à l’intérieur de la gamme, et en particulier la musique indienne, mais avec des nuances tout à fait considérables, méritent d’être prises au sérieux.
When an orchestra and a music director tire of each other’s company, they usually announce the parting of ways with expressions of mutual regret at a date two or three years down the road.
In Augusta, Georgia, they have no patience for such courtesies.
An official news release said that ‘after seven seasons leading the Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Maestro Shizuo Z Kuwahara is leaving to pursue other opportunities’.
His departure is ‘effective immediately’.
The maestro said: We have made many great accomplishments together, and I want to sincerely thank you for making my 7 years of directorship such a fruitful experience. I am confident that the organization is in good hands with the wonderful board, staff members, and especially the talented musicians playing in the orchestra. I hope to see great things from the orchestra as the symphony moves into the Miller Theater and beyond. Enjoy the wonderful season coming up, and I hope to see you again soon!’
Shizuo is a past winner of the Solti conducting competition.
Jessica Lee, a member of the Johannes String Quartet and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two, is packing her bags and moving to Cleveland.
She will occupy the seat recently vacated by Yoko Moore.
Jessica has enjoyed a portfolio career which has not, until now, included playing in an international orchestra.
photo: Jodi Buren
Michael Petrelis, the veteran campaigner, has news that the home of San Francisco Opera will instal new gender-neutral water closets news month.
He publishes a note from Elizabeth Murray, managing director of the San Francisco War Memorial Performing Arts Center buildings and a video extract of the board meeting:
Thank you for your inquiry. The War Memorial will be implementing the Board of Supervisors’ ordinance regarding all-gender toilet facilities at the Performing Arts Center.
In accordance with the ordinance we will be re-designating single-user toilet facilities as all-gender facilities by September 23, 2016.
We will then be re-designating certain multiple-user toilet facilities as all-gender facilities by November 23, 2016. We are currently in the planning stage so I cannot yet advise you on specific restroom re-designations.
Upon completion of this process I will be happy to let you know our plans.
