Q: "Tell me what excites you about the Ojai Festival." A: "You think I go to Ojai because I get excited? No. I go because there is music that I might want to do ..., and I might do it for the people who are involved." - The New York Times
The technician died in September of last year after falling more than 40 feet from a balcony while carrying out work. Authorities investigated the incident as a "work environment violation"; the lead prosecutor said that the company "had failed to investigate and assess the risk of the work in question." - AP
"(CEO Daniel) Ek probably isn’t too bothered by the lawsuits, or the burdens of running a (post-massive-layoffs) operation, or outrage ... over a more expensive plan to 'justify adding things (they) don’t want' that undercuts the artists whose work makes Spotify what it is. At least the stock price is resurging." - Slate
“Even in a Mahler symphony, the largest number of performers you could have is 120,” says the Chinese-American composer from his New York apartment. “In this case, there will be more than 1,000 – all of them will be creating the symphony together.” - The Guardian
Now with the streaming era and things like that, that it's really shifted, where instead of selling the tour to get people to buy the record, now it's the other way around, where you are releasing music to try to get people interested in the tour. - NPR
Even among conservatories, it is exceptional, with a wide age range — from preadolescence to post-baccalaureate adulthood — and a personalized approach, of schedules and repertoire, for musicians who live almost entirely for their art. - The New York Times
“Last season, we were facing what would have been roughly an $11 million deficit on a roughly $80 million budget. … We’ve had a lot of conversation internally as we’ve been doing the planning for ’24-’25 and beyond, to make sure we understand what level of resources we have.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
"I believe that an opera performance should be something unified — so that what’s going on in the orchestra pit and onstage make complete sense together. … The love for opera is very strong — the desire to create something that’s dramaturgically interesting, where the music is jumping off the page." - The New York Times
If the group achieve the $1 billion price tag, it will be the biggest deal of its kind, surpassing the $500 million (£393 million) that Sony paid to acquire Bruce Springsteen’s catalogue in late 2021. - BBC
His Decca recordings of Sibelius and Stravinsky are unconvincing — ceviche in patches, if not totally raw. His live concerts are perhaps more exciting, but the potential is priced above the tangible product. How four fine orchestras put their future in such soft hands is a mystery, unless they all bought into the same brand. - The Critic
"In the latest in a string of financial and legal battles, the Philly Pops is being sued in a federal racketeering lawsuit by its former artistic director of jazz, Terell Stafford, who alleges he wrongfully lost his job and is owed money under his contract." - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
A former assistant conductor at the Dallas Symphony and Dudamel Fellow at the L.A. Philharmonic, the 36-year-old German takes up her position in the fall of 2025. Robert Spano will remain Principal Conductor through this coming season and then become Principal Guest Conductor. - Pizzicato
A federal judge has denied the motion to dismiss a massive copyright lawsuit targeting over a 1,000 reggaeton songs from such globally recognized acts as Bad Bunny and J Balvin. - Variety
“Throughout the 1930s, Stephen composed feverishly, performing in hotels, bars and theatres across Hungary and Switzerland, as well as scoring music for Hungarian films. It was all going so well until his career – his life – was brought to a screeching halt by war.” - The Observer (UK)
