Message today from Paul Simon:

He calls it an American tune. In truth, it’s universal.

‘I can’t help wondering what’s gone wrong.’

Tonight from 7pm find out why Jews need music with Norman Lebrecht.

Connect here: https://bit.ly/2xyGoNX
Meeting ID: 665 944 402
Password: 960695

Margarita Chtereva, concertmaster of the Amazonas Philharmonic, has died suddenly at home, aged 49.

No cause of death has been given, but it has been disclosed that she recently returned from Bulgaria via Italy.

The Secretary of State of Culture and Creative Economy informs, with great regret, the passing of the violinist Margarita Chtereva, spalla of the Amazon Philharmonic, which took place on the night of this Tuesday (31/03), in Manaus.

Margarita was Bulgarian and was 49 The musician came to Manaus in 1997 after passing in a public contest that Amazonas held in several countries for the creation of the Orchestra.

The Secretary of Culture and Creative Economics, Marcos Apollo Muniz, highlights that the work of the musician was instrumental in the stage, as well as in the teaching of music in the state.

” It’s an invaluable loss! Over the course of more than two decades, Margarita has been dedicated to work with the Philharmonic and also collaborated with the formation of many Amazonese musicians, some that are now part of the Artistic Corps of the state “, he says.

In addition to the work in the Philharmonic, Margarita participated in programs such as the “Musicado”, a project of the extension of the Superior de Arts and Tourism of the University of the State of Amazonas, to encourage children and adolescents to learn.

Having told the musicians they wont be covered past May, Deborah Rutter realised it’s illegal.

Here’s the latest from the musicians:

Washington, DC—Today, the musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra released a statement firing back at Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter’s decision to furlough the musicians, making their last paycheck April 3^rd. Rutter also threatened to take away the healthcare of the musicians past May. The announcement comes on the heels of the news that the Kennedy Center would receive a $25 million grant as part of the coronavirus stimulus package.

On Tuesday, the musicians sent a legal letter to Kennedy Center management, challenging the legality of the decision to furlough them. The letter notes in part:

“In particular, we write to respond to the Kennedy Center’s position, as expressed on our call yesterday, that it unilaterally can “suspend” the parties’ entire collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) because of “exigent circumstances” on one week’s notice. That position is baseless.”

Said Steve Wilson, bassoonist and Co-Chair of the Orchestra Committee:

“On the same day that President Trump signed the stimulus package that would send $25 million to the Kennedy Center for, among other expenses, employee compensation, Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter illegally decided to stop paying us, and refused to promise to continue our healthcare past May. 

“We were glad to learn yesterday that the Center has now decided that it will cover ‘full healthcare benefits for all furloughed employees.’ But it is unfortunate that Rutter and Kennedy Center management have opted to violate our contract and federal labor law rather than come to us to discuss a collective solution.

From Tony Britten’s Arts Channel:

In this unprecedented time of national emergency, the absence of any live arts is already a significant issue.  Norfolk-based composer Tony Britten today announces his new inititatve for The Arts Channel – a subscription service he founded last May which gives arts lovers the opportunity to watch carefully curated music and arts films and documentaries from the UK and around the world, most of which cannot be seen anywhere else in this country. International programming is either subtitled or has an English commentary.

Recent acquisitions include new films about composer Arvo Pärt, jazz singer George Melly and Peter Stein’s extraordinary stage version of Goethe’s Faust, exclusive to the channel.

The Arts Channel is today launching its new improved apps and web platform so you can view it
wherever you are – which these days is probably at home! TAC – “the Netflix of Arts and Culture” is built
with Norfolk-based technology company SupaPass, who provide pre-built website and app technology for
entrepreneurs to launch their own instant fitness, conference, video, teaching, or podcast platforms.
SupaPass and The Arts Channel have collaborated to bring culture onto your screens in a unique way,
curated by Tony Britten and his associates.

Norfolk composer Tony Britten is perhaps best known for writing the UEFA Champions League anthem, was orchestrator and conductor for the iconic National Theatre production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ and more recently turned to film directing. Films he has made through his Holt based production company, Capriol Films include the popular ‘In Love with Alma Cogan’ and the highly successful ‘Benjamin Britten – Peace and Conflict’.

The Arts Channel was due a full public launch in May, but due to recent events it was felt that the right thing to do was to offer a free six-month subscription to all arts lovers. Founder Tony Britten says; “Whilst we can’t emulate the extraordinary achievements of our NHS and supporting services, we can offer something to make people’s enforced isolation a little more bearable. It’s very simple – click the
subscribe button on www.theartschannel.online and enter the code: TACFREE Of course if you feel you can subscribe, please do – producers round the world are being very generous, but there are costs involved with acquiring and screening the films they are offering to us.”

From the publicity team: Great news for classical fans! We are thrilled to announce today all new classical music content across the BBC as part of our #CultureInQuarantine festival.

The reality? Less stimulating.

See details below.

– A European radio moment with Max Richter’s Sleep – an eight hour ‘lullaby for a frenetic world’ – the orchestral work will return to its home on BBC Radio 3 but this time simulcast through Radio 3 and the European Broadcasting Union, encouraging listeners all over the continent to relax, listen, and sleep in this special radio event

– The virtual choir – BBC Four to broadcast the first ever TV concert where none of the participants will meet, choir members of Tenebrae will each record individual parts and will be unified through virtual reality technology in a feat of production
– Home Sessions – Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Andreas Scholl, Mahan Esfahani, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Ksenija Sidorova, Craig Ogden, Olivia Chaney, and others will bring home performances to Radio 3 audiences
– Postcards From Composers – contemporary composers to write musical messages to listeners at home on BBC Radio 3
– BBC Young Musician returns – one of the oldest musical talent competitions is to return to BBC Four and BBC Radio 3 celebrating the best of British talent with full broadcasts of the category finals of this world famous young talent competition
– Classical Companion – a collection of online gems from the archive including mixes, collections, quizzes, essential daily symphonies and podcasts for this time of lockdown at bbc.co.uk/radio3
– BBC Orchestras and Choirs to record ensemble and solo works remotely for Afternoon Concert, each musician will practise social distancing thanks to the wonders of technology.

Hmmm.

From Decca:

Since its inception two weeks ago, over 122,000 people have registered their interest in the Great British Home Chorus, led by British choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone.

The first video has now surpassed 278,000 total views, with an average of 20,000 live viewers for each of the eight episodes available on the channel.

An unusual communication from the Munich boss issued in light of police interest in the company’s continued actitives.

Unfortunately, the Bayerische Staatsoper is forced to postpone Marina Abramović’s opera project 7 Deaths of Maria Callas, which was prepared in the last weeks in the form of workshops in small groups, to a later date. The reason for this is the fact that from now on the participation of orchestra and large stage crew would be necessary and alternatives are not justifiable. As a result, large parts of the staff will be released from duty until April 19 in agreement with the Ministry. The house will no longer be able to continue the Monday Concert broadcasts. Exceptions are the administration – partly from the home office – and the production of protective masks in the costume department of the Staatsoper, of course only on a voluntary basis.

Director Nikolaus Bachler comments: “In addition to the problems surrounding final rehearsals, I find it particularly difficult, from an artistic point of view, to push ahead with a project – albeit under the strictest of precautions for the safety of all involved – that links one of the greatest living artists, Marina Abramović, and the greatest singer of the post-war period, Maria Callas, and fathoms it as an encounter in death. This would have been of urgent necessity and relevance in times when death is repressed. In the moment when for many people it is really a matter of life and death, other questions arise – this has become particularly clear to me in the last few days.

I have hesitated for a long time with the decision, because the unconditional will and dedication of the team around Marina Abramović has been impressive in the past weeks and many in the house have pushed the project forward with great commitment. I would also like to reiterate that all activities of the last few weeks were carried out in close consultation with the Ministry. But now it is time to stop preperations for the time being, even if it hurts me personally.

I naturally understand the great uncertainty of all employees. Nevertheless, we need courage for the future. Many positive images of the past weeks have come from creative people and artists. Therefore, we need art more than ever.”

Ballett-journal.de reports that Munich police yesterday raided Bavarian State Ballet, where a rehearsal was being held contrary to Coronavirus orders.

Names and addresses were taken. As from today, rehearsal will be distanced, from home.

Read here.

You might think it was a script for a particularly original crime series. But it’s all real. This morning, a police raid took place at the Ballet Rehearsal House at Platzl in Munich, the headquarters of the Bavarian State Ballet. The dancers had to identify themselves and their personal data was recorded. This was the last so-called “voluntary” daily training, which ballet director Igor Zelensky had decided to hold despite the pandemic… Today, the right and good things have finally been established in ballet as well, through strong pressure. The Pilates and fitness studio at the rehearsal house will finally be closed tomorrow. High time! But the company doctor on site had previously … inspected the controversial training at the ballet venue last Monday. To everyone’s surprise, however, he was highly satisfied with the fact that the ballet masters were paying attention to safety distances between the dancers during training on the barre.

UPDATE: Munich: why we kept the dancers at work

The Edinburgh festivals, official and fringe, have cancelled this August’s events.

Talks have been going on for several days with the cty authorities and the Scottish government.

The Sun reports that £10m of public funding has been pledged for next year’s grand return.

Official confirmation was announced at noon.

The cancellation affects all Edinburgh festivals, including the books festival where I was due to appear. Everyone is gutted. Nothing to be done. The book festival is contemplating possible online events.

The festivals, which began in 1947, are worth £300 million to the city. Many enterprises will face ruin.

The first statement reads: ‘ Edinburgh Art Festival, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Festival and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are not happening as planned in 2020.’

Fergus Linehan, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival, said
“We are hugely disappointed to announce this cancellation but given the current outlook we believe it is the correct decision. We recognise that Edinburgh’s festivals play a very important role in the cultural, social and economic lives of our city and country, and this decision has not been taken lightly. Our thoughts are with all the country’s key workers and we hope that we can celebrate your heroic efforts when this awful pandemic has passed.

“The Edinburgh International Festival was born out of adversity – an urgent need to reconnect and rebuild. The current crisis presents all at the Festival with a similar sense of urgency. Work begins straight away on a 2021 Festival season that will boost both our spirits and our economy.

“As we observe our essential social distancing we can, I hope, look forward to being back together soon: sharing brilliant music, theatre, dance, literature and art from the greatest creative minds of our time. Until then, thank you for all your good wishes and keep safe in the coming months.”

LSO violinists Tom and Ellie Norris at evening practice.

Sights of London, April 2020

Sydenham, we think.

The City-funded London arts centre says it will not reopen before July 1 at the earliest.

As an organisation, we rely on ticket sales and your enduring support and generosity to be able to present and share our programme with you and thousands of others. We’re all finding ourselves in completely new territory, which presents a real financial challenge for us and for those we work with. So, if you’re able, please consider donating to us so we can keep investing in the artists and organisations that help make this place what it is. Please also consider donating to our artistic residents and associates to support them through these difficult times.

Full statement here.