"Hazel" (formally, the Hazel Wright Organ) was the instrument of the Crystal Cathedral, from which Rev. Robert H. Schuller once hosted the Sunday morning show Hour of Power. After years of repair, Hazel is back home in what's now Christ's Cathedral in the Catholic Diocese of Orange County. - AP
With Bandcamp’s model, buying an album feels like an investment in both the music and the artist, and as a result it’s the best place to buy music on the web. - Fast Company
Spotify said Wednesday it has closed its office in Russia indefinitely because of the “unprovoked attack on Ukraine.” Social media companies with more than 500,000 daily users must have local offices in Russia, according to that country’s law. - Deadline
"At what point does cultural exchange — always a blur between being a humanizing balm and a tool of propaganda — become unbearable? What is sufficient distance from authoritarian leadership? And what is sufficient disavowal, particularly when speaking up could threaten the safety of artists or their families?" - The New York Times
"'It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,' Peter Gelb, the company's general manager, said in a statement. 'Anna is one of the greatest singers in Met history, but with Putin killing innocent victims in Ukraine there was no way forward.'" - The New York Times
Increases in collections from the audio streaming and audio-visual sectors pushed ASCAP’s domestic revenue to $1.011 billion in 2021, up 4.4%, an increase of $42.5 million over 2020. This was the first year that ASCAP domestic revenues from U.S.-licensed performances surpassed $1 billion. - Variety
A large Russian missile was fired at Freedom Square in the center of Ukraine's second-largest city, causing severe damage to the Kharkiv State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Kharkiv Philharmonic Hall. At least ten people are dead and 35 injured. - Classic FM (UK)
The Russian soprano, a former protégée of Gergiev and supporter of Putin who has come under pressure to denounce the invasion of Ukraine, said in a statement, "This is not the right time for me to be performing and making music. I hope my audience will understand this decision." - Euronews
The 35-year-old Wellington native, principal guest conductor of the Dallas Symphony and music director of the Hamilton (Ont.) Philharmonic, is not only the first woman to helm the orchestra in its 75-year history, she is the first native New Zealander in the position since 1954. - Stuff (New Zealand)
The Bavarian capital's mayor followed through on his warning that the Russian maestro would be dismissed if he didn't denounce Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Gergiev lost several other gigs over the weekend as well, including honorary chair of the Edinburgh International Festival. - BBC
Deborah Borda, president of the New York Philharmonic, gave me a virtual tour on Zoom the other day. What I saw leads me to believe that Geffen Hall will leave the rest of the world playing catch-up. - The Critic
First of all, "the Warner Grand Theater building was originally designed for film screenings, not live performances, so the depth of the stage had to be expanded from 18 feet to 53 feet." - Fast Company
