Sometimes, the upper echelon of violinists forget the struggles others have to afford a single instrument.

Hilary is writing on her dealer’s site:

It’s hard to compare them; I’ve had such different experiences with each, at different points in my life. I do know that the 1864 doesn’t feel quite as natural to play as it used to. Something changed about it over the years and I haven’t changed in the same direction. But these things can reverse on a dime, so I don’t discount it at all. It’s a powerful violin with a luscious but clear sound. The 1865 is right for me these days. It’s nimble but strong, responds to my subtler nuances, moves with me. It’s like an extension of myself. That difference may be psychological; a player-instrument relationship is as complex as an interpersonal one….

Read on here.

 

 

 

The Royal Opera House’s head of marketing Lucy Sinclair is moving on after three years to teach Google new arias.

These are the achievements she lists:

 – Increased financial capacity of the venues in 2017/18 through a new data-led pricing and marketing strategy. Increased full price sales from 83% to 89% (against a London market average of 43%) delivering a £2 million increase in profit.
– Grew CRM results from 8% to 25% of total revenue, whilst halving the costs
– Achieved annual footfall targets within first few months of new brand positioning and drove positive brand perception shifts among target consumers after one month of a new campaign
– Lead team of 60 including Analytics and Audience Insight, Marketing Communications, Broadcast Production, Media Distribution, Creative Studios and Digital Product Management
– Introduced Agile and OKRs and restructured the division to create alignment and focus on growth targets.

Not strong on communication.

 

 

Alexey Lyudmilin, chief conductor of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre from 1989 to 2000 and later of other Siberian houses, has died at 78.

According to the regional governor, he was still teaching a choral course in the week of his death.

 

It seems to have escaped the attention of music media that the young Swedish climate campaigner is the daughter of the opera singer Malena Ernman and the actor Svante Thunberg.

Malena has appeared on Slipped Disc on various occasions as an enterprising personality.

 

It is reported in Italy that Dominique Meyer, outgoing head of the Vienna State Opera, is on the shortlist to succeed Alexander Pereira as Sovrintendente of La Scala.

Pereira is due to leave next February, unless a hostile board grants him an extension.

In present political circumstances, it is unlikely that a non-Italian will be chosen.

Rome’s Carlo Fuortes is hotly favoured.

 

 

 

If you think your bequest will be held forever in college archives, think again.

Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge is selling what is known as the ‘Box of Delights’, presented by Caius alumnus Dr Philip Marriott (1965) in 2004.

It consists of of 87 paintings, sketches, musical compositions, poems, stories and vignettes by some of the most celebrated artists, writers and musicians of 1920s Vienna, including Arnold Schoenberg, Richard Strauss, Béla Bartók, Oskar Kokoschka, Arthur Schnitzler, Karel Capek and Stefan Zweig, and will go on sale at Sotheby’s on Tuesday 11 June.

 

 

Dr Philip Marriott inherited the box from his adoptive father, David Bach’s nephew, Herbert Bach. It was Dr Marriott’s wish that these beautiful works, would receive the care and attention they deserve.

At Dr Marriott’s request, the proceeds will be used to help the College and his old school to provide outstanding educational opportunities for future generations of students. This will honour David Bach’s belief that art and education should be made available as widely as possible.

The Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition has reached its final stage.

Almost 500 applicants have been whittled down to eight.

The final will be conducted by Hannu Lintu.

The rule in the jury room is that judges must not discuss the merits of different candidates. Each judges sets down marks on paper and the marks are independently totted up.
The finalists are:
Teaa An, mezzo-soprano, South Korean

Stefan Astakhov, baritone, German

Olga Cheremnykh, soprano, Russian

Jussi Juola, bass, Finnish

Palesa Malieloa, soprano, South African

Bryan Murray, baritone, American

Rodrigo Sosa Dal Pozzo, countertenor, Italian, Venezuelan

Johanna Wallroth, soprano, Swedish

The members of the Jury vote independently and do not discuss the performances during the voting procedure. The chairman of the 2019 Jury is the Artistic Director of the Savonlinna Opera Festival, Jorma Silvasti. The members are Olaf Bär, Ben Heppner, Vesselina Kasarova, François Le Roux, Waltraud Meier, Deborah Polaski and Kiri Te Kanawa.