Six years ago, the Finnish volinist and conductor Dalia Stasevska made waves on a Ukrainian website by attacking Valery Gergiev and all his acolytes who unquestioningly supported Vladimir Putin’s wars of aggression.
Among other things she wrote:
Instead of supporting anti-humane and militant policies we, the musicians and artists, have the responsibility to fight for humanity. Our profession arises from a spiritual source inside us, making us compassionate and able to love everything living. There is so much beauty around us, that we can’t maybe sense clearly as often as necessary – maybe that is why we need an artists to remind us about basic human rights. I invite all the musicians and artists to use all their possible power to overcome the hatred and false emotions towards each other, to stop dictators, stop ignoring international law and its obligations as well not to resort to any further aggression towards Ukraine or any other peaceful country.
That was then.
This summer Stasevska will be conducting at Gergiev’s Finnish festival in Mikkeli (pictured). He has clearly forgiven her, and she has apparently swallowed her noble ideals.
The Welsh Opera singer Wynne Evans, known for his UK role as Gio Compario in the Go Compare insurance adverts – as been appointed a trustee of Grange Park Opera, Surrey.
‘It may come as a surprise to some people, but yes I really am a bone fida opera singer, and opera is my first passion. I am beyond excited to join the team at Grange Park Opera, where I’ve enjoyed some of the most atmospheri performances of my career, and have even bought a new tie and pocket square in honour of the occasion.
‘If anyone from GoCompare is reading, it goes without saying that comparing insurance comes a very close second to opera in terms of passion areas in my life. I will do everything I can to support Grange Park Opera, Surrey, in delivering its vision, and
am honoured to be appointed a trustee for this dynamic organisation.’
Two orchestra in Illinois are on the brink.
The Lake Forest Symphony, founded by Chicago Symphony concertmaster, Victor Aitay, has terminated its season due to ‘rising costs and a fundraising shortfall’. The music director is Vladimir Kulenovic, the 2015 Solti award winner nd former Alan Gilbert aide.
The Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, music director Victor Muenzer, the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra is cancelling ‘because it has not received funding from one of its significant donors.’
The ripples could be extensive.
We’re hearing from people at Covent Garden than Jonas Kaufmann was a no-show at today’s dress rehearsal of Fidelio. Unwell, they said.
Lise Davidsen, on the other hand, was every inch the star and won a huge ovation.
Jonathan Stoughton covered for Jonas.
The US union of opera performers has taken issue with the New York Times wording of its proposed settlement with Placido Domingo after its lawyers found him guilty of inappropriate behaviour.
AGMA says there was no talk of a settlement by which the slate would be wiped clean. Rather, Domingo was told he would be fined half a million bucks to pay for AGMA’s legal expenses and its future anti-harrassment measures.
Here’s the statement:
This afternoon, The New York Times published a piece titled “Disclosure of Plácido Domingo Allegations Scuttles $500,000 Deal.” AGMA seeks to clarify the misperceptions of this article and in recent reports by NPR: the anticipated fine, to our knowledge the largest to be imposed on a union member, was NOT in exchange for AGMA’s silence or to make any “secret deal.”
The potential fine was part of a series of proposed measures to resolve potential internal union discipline which included: a lengthy suspension; mandatory training/coaching; and a sincere public apology. In addition to offsetting AGMA’s legal fees incurred in the investigation, the fine was earmarked to support the Union’s ongoing efforts and new initiatives to prevent sexual harassment in our industries. Additionally, a portion of the fine was to go to nonprofit entities designated by the Union to support targets of sexual harassment and programs to eliminate harassment in our industries. The Union had complete control over how the monies from the fine were to be spent.
Regardless of the fine imposed, AGMA was never planning to publicly release the specific details of its internal investigation, as the Union had assured witnesses of confidentiality. Any suggestion that the Union was being paid to withhold information is patently false.
AGMA thanks the individuals who took part in the months’ long investigation for their bravery in coming forward and wants to assure them that we hear them. AGMA has accepted the findings of the internal investigation, which confirmed allegations against Mr. Domingo. AGMA is in the process of determining appropriate action that sends two clear messages: 1) this behavior won’t be tolerated by AGMA and 2) we are leading a national effort to eliminate sexual harassment within our industries. Should any AGMA members become a target of harassment or discrimination, they should notify AGMA immediately by confidentially reporting claims to reporting@musicalartists.org.
From my Spectator interview with the music director of the Royal Opera House:
…. He has his own view on who the audience should be. ‘In this country,’ says Antonio Pappano, ‘I’ve observed that despite all our talk of wanting to bring in younger audiences, opera is something that you come to… later. Younger people tend to be restless. We’re asking them to sit sometimes for five hours on end. I’m comfortable with classical music, in general, that you come to it later in life.’
We heard it from Sir Antonio Pappano, in a Spectator interview that comes out today.
Pappano, who is meant to be leaving Covent Garden that year, will stay on at least long enough to work with the self-styled ‘gay Jewish kangaroo’ Kosky, whom he calls ‘a good egg’.
Statement just received on the Vienna Staatsoper’s dismissal of a principal cello, who holds the same seat in the Vienna Philharmonic:
Die Vereinsstatuten der Wiener Philharmoniker ziehen nach der Entlassung von RN aus der Wiener Staatsoper auch das Ausscheiden aus dem Verein der Wiener Philharmoniker nach sich. Die Nachricht erreichte das Orchester gestern zu Mittag. Es befindet sich gerade mit dem Beethoven Programm auf Tournee in Paris. RN spielte gestern am Abend nicht mehr. Mehr ist dazu von philharmonischer Seite aus nicht zu sagen.
The statutes of the Vienna Philharmonic require that, following ‘R.N.”s dismissal by the Vienna State Opera’s, he must also leave the Vienna Philharmonic Association. The news reached the orchestra at noon yesterday. It is currently on tour in Paris with a Beethoven program. ‘R.N.’ stopped playing from yesterday evening.
There is nothing more to say from the Philharmonic side.
The Manchester orchestra has chosen David Butcher of the Britten Sinfonia to succeed John Summers, who is retiring this summer.
Butcher has been Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Britten Sinfonia for 25 years.
His first task will be to select likely successors to the music director, Sir Mark Elder.
Plácido Domingo – México 2.27.2020 I feel I must issue a further statement to correct the false impression generated by my apology in some of the articles reporting on the AGMA investigation.
My apology was sincere and heartfelt, to any colleague who I have made to feel uncomfortable, or hurt in any manner, by anything I have said or done. As I have said it repeatedly, it was never my intention to hurt or offend anyone.
But I know what I have not done and I’ll deny it again. I have never behaved aggressively toward anyone, and I have never done anything to obstruct or hurt anyone’s career in any way. On the contrary, I have devoted much of my half century in the world of opera supporting the industry and promoting the career of countless singers.
I am grateful to all the friends and colleagues that, up until now, have believed in me and supported me through these difficult moments. In order to spare them harm or any additional inconvenience, I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming performances of La Traviata at the Teatro Real in Madrid.
Furthermore, I will withdraw from the engagements in which theaters and companies find it difficult to carry out those commitments. On the other hand, I will fulfill all my other commitments wherever circumstances permit it.
With Valery Gergiev, this month in St Petersburg
The Vienna State Opera has confirmed to us that a principal cello in the opera orchestra was dismissed yesterday instantly and without notice following allegations of sexual misconduct in his role as a teacher at the University of Music.
The man had previously been sacked from the university. His appeal against dismissal was dismissed this week by a labour court.
Under Austrian law the player, who is also a principal cello of the Vienna Philharmonic, cannot be named.
Manuscript sketches for a piano piece, dating from 1790-92, are to be played tonight by Doris Adam as part of the ‘Beethoven and His Publishers’ exhibition at the Wienbibliothek im Rathaus.
The sketches were discovered by Jochen Reutter, editor of the Wiener Urtext Edition, who will precede the performance with a lecture. The piece is hitherto unknown and uncatalogued.
