Breaking: Lucerne abolishes two out of its three festivals
mainThe richest classical festival on the planet has just announced huge cutbacks.
The Easter Festival has been cancelled, as of now.
The Piano Festival will also be held for the last time later this year.
These events have been declared to be ‘strategically of less importance for the goal of further strengthening the Lucerne Festival brand.’
The deletions have been buried low down in a Bible-length press release which talks of reinvesting in the summer festival, the festival orchestra and the festival academy, as well as reinforcing ‘the Festival’s ties with its hometown and with the Canton of Lucerne.’
We read these things so you don’t have to.
“Bible-length”? It is only two pages, Norman.
Have you seen the seven other attachments?
It is quite silly: we cut two thirds to make it better. It is a good example of selling negative news: just wrap it in positive news, as if nobody would notice the sophistry.
‘Yesterday uncle Arnold suddenly died but the family is very happy since this will strengthen the ties between the family members. We are very grateful for uncle Arnold to have so drastically and generously contributed to our well-being.’
“Schoenberg est mort” in a nutshell
Worth learning about the details before coming to judgements.
Apparently it is not meant as taking away funding in general, but as refocusing the existing resources on the major festival and thus strengthening it further.
Yes, in theory – but how is a festival strengthened? Was it then weaker before? Does it mean: more expensive soloists, or: more concerts? Or more modern works so that the budget can cover ticket losses? The whole idea of ‘strengthening’ a festival by ‘refocussing’, sounds like a typical manager speak destined to cover-up something rather than saying something meaningful.
When I see the word “brand” creeping in, I know immediately that this is a PR-speak attempt to pass off bad news as good news
==idea of ‘strengthening’ a festival by ‘refocussing’, sounds like a typical manager speak destined to cover-up something
Yep, we’re back to the MBA approach discussed in the ENO thread.