Stuart Murphy: "We looked at the money. We spoke to people the Arts Council hadn't bothered to speak to in Manchester, from across the opera world, and our staff — and it's just not doable. ... These are skills that can't just be learned in the three years we've been given." - BBC
The Suzuki story turns out to be a fascinating study in the hybrid nature of human culture, tracing a remarkable cross-century triple play—European music to Japanese discipline, ending with a putout at a first base manned by mad American parental ambition. - The New Yorker
The chief executive said the organisation was "completely shocked" by its 100% cut, announced last week as part of the latest round of ACE funding and said he had not seen "any audience need" for opera in Manchester, which was already being served by companies such as Opera North. - The Stage
"(A new) report looks into the hurdles faced by the buzzing-but-fragile music scenes of Nuuk, Greenland and two other far-northern cities: Torshavn in the Faroe Islands and Juneau, Alaska." - Bloomberg CityLab
"I guess because it was no longer about travel. It was about age. It wasn't, 'Will the flight make it safely?' The odds are it will. Will I die? You bet I will." - Van
In London, three of the four non-BBC orchestras had their grants cut, with only the Royal Philharmonic seeing no change. The major orchestras beyond the capital had funding maintained or increased, the Aurora Orchestra got a 53% boost, and grants to the National Youth Orchestra and Choir nearly doubled. - Bachtrack
"Firstly, there is a substantial transfer of funding away from opera (11% down), most of which has gone to dance (12% up). In addition, The Royal Opera, which does both, is 13% down." Two companies which do a lot of regional touring got big cuts; others got small increases. - Bachtrack
The Manchester-based ensemble Psappha and the Cambridge-based Britten Sinfonia were defunded, while the London Sinfonietta and the service organisation Sound and Music saw cuts of one-third or more. Other groups, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Manchester Collective, and the record label NMC, got new or increased funding. - Bachtrack
A first-place trophy at the Mariachi Vegas Extravaganza gives the bands rights to call themselves "national champions." But post-pandemic, whew. It's been a lot of work. - The New York Times
Cellist and composer Mali Obomsawin, a citizen of the Odanak First Nation, found a recording of a first-language speaker and teacher in the archives at Dartmouth. "Our language is so melodic and rhythmic, and it was really fascinating to ... be in conversation with that on my instrument." - NPR
For instance: "For a key scene captured in a single take between Tár and a student in a lecture hall, Winke miked the actors and hid a microphone in the piano. In post, they eliminated body rustles and dips when voices go slightly off-mic." - Los Angeles Times
"The English National Opera is to lose its £12.6m core annual funding from Arts Council England in a major shake-up that leaves its future uncertain. Instead, the prestigious company will get £17m over three years to 'develop a new business model', with a suggestion it moves from London to Manchester." - BBC
Songwriter Andy Stone sued the popstar in June, claiming he co-wrote a song with the same name five years earlier. He told the court he would dismiss the case - but legally he could refile it. - BBC
How do you adjust the acoustics of an already-completed auditorium? Turns out the architects and acousticians built in some adjustable features. - The New York Times
“I have now been ‘in line’ on @Ticketmaster for over 4 hours just for the privilege of registering to buy @taylorswift13 tickets. Not even but the tickets, mind you, just register to buy them. How can this company be so consistently awful, yet still exist?.” - Los Angeles Times
