Strangely, I have lately run across a certain mentality in the orchestra business that I thought was heading into extinction. Silly me.
rants&raves
To Laugh? To Cry?
It’s a sign of the times, and in any other economic situation I would declare it the rebirth of Reason in the World. Instead it’s just kinda depressing.
Soul Food for Thought
We’re coming up on MLK Jr. day so it is time to reflect on what I’ve been doing the past couple of months.
The Floggings will continue…..
Note to orchestra administrations everywhere: you wonder why there are some musicians in your ensemble who complain that they feel like indentured servants? Well, sometimes you treat them like that, and here’s a perfect example.
Caveat Emptor!!!
Conductors are like reverse ostriches. We are constantly popping our heads up out of the sand, looking around, and trying to determine what orchestras are coming available, who’s looking for a new Music Director. We want that next job, the next claim to fame, etc. Buried deep on the New York Times website I noticed a little ditty. It seems that an orchestra that I am familiar with is parting ways with their M.D. Perhaps I should…….
The Coming Storm
More fabulous news on the Arts front – from the daily updates from organizations around the U.S. that suddenly they’re looking at multi-million dollar deficits due to the worsening economy (muchas gracias, Señor Bush!) to the wonderful news that even the government of that bastion of Liberalism – Australia – has lost it’s collective mind. One wonders if you should start building the bomb shelter.
The Scourge
I’m here in beautiful Berkeley, Ca. I’ve been having a good time hanging out with the various riff-raff, assorted hippies, left-wing nuts, college students (remember those days?), the record stores (remember those days?), the head shops (remem…… ok, never mind), and of course the Berkeley Symphony. But one thing has raised its ugly head and I must denounce it. The Scourge has returned……