For the uninitiated, this may seem like merely an intra-classical-music-world squabble, a fight over the esoterica of contemporary music versus old and pampered performers versus penurious patrons. In fact, it’s bigger than that. It is a dangerous warning sign that yet another prestigious institution in San Francisco has lost its way. - San Francisco Standard
Crumb’s “scores — created by hand and themselves works of art — are rife with exacting instructions to performers: how to thread paper between the strings of a harp, or how string players should use the thimbles on their fingers.” - The New York Times
"The city, which leases Harrison Opera House to Virginia Opera, says the organization owes $270,000 … for (2019-2024). … Virginia Opera leaders dispute those claims, said Peggy Kriha Miller, general director. … When asked why opera leaders do not believe the organization is behind on rent, Miller declined to comment." - The Virginian-Pilot
Aside from merely making a copy of a voice, MicDrop purports to offer a voice-to-instrument function, similar to the features that can make keyboards sound like a guitar or drum. - Rolling Stone
A 34-year-old Singaporean-Australian who is currently music director of the Wyoming Symphony and resident conductor of the Colorado Symphony (jobs he will retain), Christopher Dragon begins his term with the upcoming season. Chelsea Tipton has been named principal guest conductor. - The News and Record (Greensboro, NC)
"Sometimes we associate the word 'operatic' with big, extreme feelings. But I think mixed emotions — ambivalence — are what opera does best. It conveys the complexity of emotions that might be hard to hear in everyday speech. The book (Fellow Travelers) had a lot of that." - San Francisco Classical Voice
"She began her position in 2021 and was instrumental in reshaping the resident program and was responsible for principal casting for mainstage and concert productions. She also worked with the development team to secure funding for the resident program, among others." - OperaWire
The Metropolitan Opera revealed its finances for 2023-24 season, including the fact that it had sold 72 percent of available tickets. The number was up from the previous season which only saw 66 percent of available tickets sold. - OperaWire
Maybe! There’s “the sense that the theater has so fully reconciled with pop, rock, R&B and country — you know, the music that’s been filling the Billboard charts since the mid-1950s — that it’s finally comfortable enough to take liberties with them.” - Washington Post
“Following the illegal vinyl trade – and the work of the people trying to stop it – can be both fascinating and very strange. The stories it produces mix mundane law enforcement with the names of hugely famous musicians.” - The Guardian (UK)
The 10.74% YoY growth rate – representing an increase of about $600 million in raw dollar terms – is little more than half the increase seen the year before, when US music publishing saw a 19.25% YoY increase, or growth of around $900 million. - Music Business Worldwide
The additional revenue from the higher Premium subscription costs may not go to the music composers. According to the FTC complaint, Spotify will pay about $150 million less in music royalties over the first year of these new bundled Premium plans. - Engadget
Administrators opted to install another electronic (or 'digital') organ, a substitute for the real thing. This misguided decision, made hastily during the malaise of the Covid pandemic, was as baffling as it is unfortunate. The New York Philharmonic, a venerable, well-heeled institution, shouldn't present to the public a facsimile of a pipe organ. - BBC Music
Making pop hits has always been a crapshoot. But today, with the world awash in content, TikTok rewriting labels’ playbooks and listeners burrowing deeper into their own personalized niches, even avid pop fans don’t recognize what’s in the Billboard top 10. - The Wall Street Journal
