Grammys? Who cares!!!!
It’s that time of year again. The Grammy Awards are all the talk of the business, and once again there is the yearly bellyaching about how the Classical Grammy awards aren’t shown on TV. Well……. who cares?
Quick Takes: And for the Record(ing) we need to go more “GaGa!”
While the rest of the universe is scratching their heads and debating how Taylor Swift won the Grammy for album of the year, the Internet broadcast of the Classical awards from earlier in the day on Sunday left me perplexed…and the sad thing is, it’s maybe just me who is. It seems not only are precious few Classical recordings being sold (very scary numbers below), but most of the winners for the Classical awards did not attend….and for crying out loud Roberta Flack, a living legend was handing them out!….
Quick Takes: How transparent are we?
We all make a big deal sometimes that as an organization we are transparent, see through, nothing to hide etc…but is there a test out there that determines just how transparent we really are? It is more relevant that with transparency someone can see, “who you” rather than see “through you”! Recently at the Springfield Symphony we were tested, but we didn’t realize it until we were put on the spot…..
Adjusting the Seasonings in Salt Lake! – Time to Make a Play!
The Utah Symphony and Opera have been rescued by a very large gift which is great news. A couple of articles about their situation got me thinking more about community outreach and how the tangible resonance of a hall needs to be matched with the resonance felt within and even beyond our communities. More importantly though, it’s now time for Orchestras to stop playing defense in this recession and start to become a player in getting America out of it!……We are faced with possibly the greatest opportunity ever to become relevant, so it’s time get off the bench and fight!…..
Time for a CONTROVERSY!!!
I had a revelation the other day, and since this is the age of instant communication I decided to post it on Facebook immediately. I knew that it was going to drive some people, many of them good friends of mine and respected colleagues, completely insane, but occasionally one has to open up the floodgates to get a good conversation going. I was not disappointed. This is what I said: “In order to understand Beethoven you have to play the piano. And in order to play the piano you have to understand Beethoven.” Let the games begin!
Hope for the Next Decade: A Call to Arts!
Community Outreach was the catchall category of the last decade in the Orchestra world, and has become so non defined that we take for granted that it’s happening at every orchestra. It most certainly isn’t just because the words are used. It is time to define it for real, give it real teeth and to make those who use the word accountable. Why? It is something that Bono said, yes the U2 guy!…..
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