Philip Glass warns off pirates in occupied Ukraine
NewsThe composer has sent this missive to the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theatre:
It has come to my attention that a ballet entitled Wuthering Heights featuring my music and using my name in its advertising and promotion is to premiere in public performance at your theater in Sevastopol next week.
No permission for the use of my music in the ballet or the use of my name in the advertising and promotion of the ballet was ever requested of me or given by me. The use of my music and the use of my name without my consent is in violation of The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works to which the Russian Federation is a signatory. It is an act of piracy.
I am well aware that the current circumstances in occupied Crimea leave me powerless to assert my right under international law to prohibit this act of piracy. But I shall make my vehement objection to it known should you proceed.
Be guided accordingly,
— Philip Glass (@philipglass) July 25, 2024
While thousands of men are being murdered by an entirely pointless war set in motion by paranoia, a war which unsettles the whole world and which has grave consequences for basic security in the entire West, Mr Glass is terribly worried about his royalties.
To my mind, Philip Glass is less concerned about royalties than about basic respect, even “just” courtesy.
And why not? Earning one’s living as a composer is very difficult at the best of times. Pirating a work in copyright is illegal and should be condemned. So by the way is conducting a war of aggression.
Who is surprised by piracy by the Russians??
Not everything carried out by Russians is negative. Russian culture is supreme and has nothing to do with war.
Has Mr. Glass permitted performances of, and collected the royalties for, any of his music in the Russian Federation subsequent to the commencement of the war?
“set in motion by paranoia”
Erm. No. It’s about the puny fascist’s dream to restore the soviet union.
Which is a form of paranoia.
Bingo.
This has been going on all along. Scenario: Dmitri Jurowski conducts an opera copyrighted in my name in Belgium; he makes illegal photocopies of the score and parts; conducts the work for free in Moscow (2022) and has the audacity to upload the recording to YouTube.
That’s shocking, but not untypical Russian practice.
What on earth do you know about “typical Russian practice” Norman? Prejudiced much? America just stole over $100 billion of Russia’s assets, so if they want to pinch a couple of operas I say fair is fair.
This sentence should read: ‘not untypical practice worldwide’. It’s isn’t just the Russians. The Russian government have invaded Ukraine – not the Russian people. There is a lot of negatively about Russians per se on these pages. Yet very music forum will praise Russian culture when it suits. You can’t have it both ways.
Dear Mr. Beaumont, Dmitri Jurowski was asked by the Moscow orchestra to conduct this opera of Zemlinsky with your edition because he really loves this music, not because he was making any illegal copies. It is not his responsibility which kind of material the orchestra was using. Every theater or orchestra is taking care of it themselves. Surely they broke copyright laws, but you cannot really blame him or any artist for this. Also the recording of this concert was uploaded by the philharmony, not by any individual artist.
Unfortunately most countries in the former Soviet Union don’t follow the copyright rules, especially Russia after 2022.
Appalling atrocities occur daily across this region.
Now, they are being forced to listen to ‘Philip Glass’.
Surely, they’ve already suffered enough.
And what makes Mr Glass believe that economic piracy only works one way? After the confiscation of treasures from the Crimean museum and stealing of Russian property in the US by the Obama administration why would the Russians play by the rule
Sure, Ivan. Whatever you say, Ivan.
We should disconnect ruzzia from the Internet. And thereby fascists like Ivan here.
Oh no, someone is challenging your worldview. The tragedy….
Tis better mire in your muck? …so your shtick goes on, your shtick goes on…
Are the requests for Philip Glass music so few that he handles them all personally?
I would have thought a publisher, distributor or agent would be assigned such a duty.
During the Soviet era, all the major record labels – EMI, CBS, DGG, etc., saw their recordings being issued in the Soviet Union by Melodya – without their permission. Many popular Western books were also published in the Soviet Union by the state publishing house – again without permission.