Shunned Berlin concertmaster acccepts Latvia post
OrchestrasThe violinist Vineta Sareika, who resigned this week as concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, has been awarded an honorary professorship by the Latvian Academy of Music in her home country.
She says: ‘Extremely honored and thankful to become the honorary professor of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music!’
It is not clear whether or not this will represent a time commitment on her part.
Is this proctectionism?
please define proctectionism.
It is when proctection become systemic.
Nah, that’s the Finns.
The only context in which I am familiar with the word “proctection” is to do with bicycles.
Congratulations to her!! A prestigious post.
That does not mean any time commitment at all, it is just a title.
The classical music world is in an uproar over this violinist’s choice to leave the highly charged Berlin Philharmonic?
She has the luxury of publicly announcing her departure many months in advance, with a veiled criticism of the orchestra’s defining characteristic: an orchestra of soloists; soloists are not very agreeable types. Furthermore, I imagine there are concertmasters who have resigned due to first violinists whose toxic jealousy leads them to resent any new concertmaster who they feel is a threat. Obviously she plays well, but it is not difficult for the first violins to backstab and sabotage any concertmaster they find to be a threat. My father called this curse ‘leader envy.’
The recent BSo hire is a testament to this: agreeable musician, refined technique—safe—, and not a real musical threat to any of those first violinists (who face ‘leader envy’ every day). Other orchestra sections do not have such disparity: concertmaster is the highest instrumental role and first violins are usually the largest section of musicians.
Berlin is a very good orchestra, defined largely by its high caliber. String quartet —read: agreeable—violinists don’t typically fit into such an orchestra’s concertmaster position.
Now, if she starts a blog she might have an invitation to sub with BSo.
If you think string quartet violinists (or violists or cellists) are all an agreeable, pleasant bunch, you apparently haven’t spent much time playing in a string quartet.
String quartet violinists are usually more agreeable than first violinists in an orchestra.
Consider how some American quartet violinists swap roles (Emerson), or how they coach chamber music as a group. Consider how the times have largely changed: string quartets are not named after first violinists anymore. Consider sorting out an interpretation with three others, and each player knows his or her or the role.
Orchestra first violinists: not the same. For one, they compete for status towards higher chairs. The concertmaster leads not only the first violinists but also the orchestra. There is a visual hierarchy. I remember the urge to compete as far back as elementary school. String quartet was a different business altogether. Name a disgruntled string quartet second violinist—very few outwardly disgruntled.
In an orchestra like the Berlin Philharmonic, very few members have a quartet background. The viola principal Grosz is a rare case—then again, he is a violist, the most agreeable section of them all.
That is not to say string quartet violinists are perfectly agreeable. No, they are still artists, but they lose their individuality and their voice when they join a section.
She is the first female concertmaster in the history of the Berlin Philharmonic which should give you an idea of the misogyny she likely faced. Women understand what they’re up against in leadership roles given the fact that the most prized concertmasters, conductors, chefs, business leaders, world leaders, etc. are all male.
Knowing the Berlin Philharmonic’s reputation gives a clearer understanding: cutthroat attitudes, arrogance of the highest level (fueled by its worshippers worldwide)—misogyny or not it doesn’t sound pleasant to everyone. Should the orchestra (its males and females) change ‘because’ the concertmaster that program is a woman? That would be misogyny just the same.
Why “Shunned”? Did you know something that you did not print?
How was she ‘shunned’?
From the headline it would appear that Norman knows something he isn’t telling us. Or it’s just a grab for more clicks – that worked.
Maybe the ‘shunned’ was just Normans interpretation after clearly misogynic statements from inside the orchester in the ‘ask Alma’ post. At least it was her decision to leave – and shouldn’t we respect the fact, that she didn’t point on anyone with the finger? As far as i can see, she didn’t provide any ‘veiled criticism’ refering to ‘strong egos’ in the orchestra as Gerry claimed (source?).
In her statement she only said her future way will be apart from ‘this particular orchester’.
So maybe there was something going on (in her group?), but if this was the case, her decision to leave without troubling anyone would be even more respectable.