Antony Ernst, the Australian artistic director of the Strasbourg Philharmonic is switching jobs to the Royal Danish Orchestra in Copenhagen.
The difference is croissant for breakfast, or Danish.
Myself, it’s croissant any day.
In response to concerns raised by a former Festival Orchestra violinist in a message to Slipped Disc:
The Verbier Festival is aware of the recent allegations of sexual harassment made against conductor James Levine. We are profoundly disturbed and saddened by these accusations.
James Levine participated in eight consecutive editions of the Verbier Festival (1999-2006). He has not returned to the Verbier Festival since 2006 and no future engagements are either confirmed nor anticipated.
The Verbier Festival maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy in regard to sexual harassment. Since the Festival’s founding in 1994, it has not had any such incidents. Were an allegation to occur, the Festival would treat the report seriously, support the victim, and act swiftly in compliance with its sexual harassment reporting protocol.
Sexual harassment is abhorrent. We are committed to reviewing and, as necessary, strengthening our current policies and procedures in light of current events.
Martin Engstroem
An American transgender singer who was accepted into the Glyndebourne Academy describes the difference a sympathetic environment can make.
The official student profile was this: “Glyndebourne Academy is for those young classical singers (16- 26) who have missed out on the chance to develop their vocal talent through lack of access to specialist knowledge, funds, or who have faced some other barrier which has prevented them reaching their full potential.”
Glyndebourne was creating a safe space for singers to accept their flaws or inadequacies, and to work on them without judgement, and to give them a real chance to make up for lost time due to finances, illness, disability – or in my case, the two years lost while taking testosterone.
From the very first audition, I felt supported and loved by the Glyndebourne Education team. During our auditions, they sat me down to ask me questions about my situation, and really listened to what I had to say. It gave me an incredible sense of validation that I didn’t know I had been looking for: you are a good artist, you are worth the time and effort, we want to listen to what you want to communicate….
Read on here.
photo: Sam Stephenson/Glyndebourne
CAVEAT: This looks like a piece of Glyndebourne PR planted on an ex-newspaper that no longer pays for articles. It is, none the less, interesting.
The Jerome L. Greene Foundation has given $10 million to New York Public Radio, home of WNYC and WQXR.
That’s on top of $6 million in 2006 and $10 million in 2014, making them the biggest supporters of classical radio anywhere on earth.
Read more here.
Has to be this.
Was the designer feeling very sad?
Had the marketing manager taken p/maternity leave?
Did everyone else leave their marbles at the door?