Author - Robert Levine

1
A guilty pleasure
2
Dog bites man
3
How the CD business could have been saved
4
Thinking different about Pops
5
Do orchestra managers make too much?
6
The Fall Classic
7
Change we can believe in
8
This week's concessions
9
Are conductors ovepaid?
10
Noises off week in Wisconsin

A guilty pleasure

I generally enjoy playing (and even listening to) Rachmaninoff – but I usually don’t respect myself the next morning for having done so. This week, though, might be different. We’re doing the Rachmaninoff third concerto (“Rock 3”, in tribal parlance) and the second symphony. I’m finding it makes a huge difference in how interesting Rachmaninoff[…]

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Dog bites man

My favorite headline of all time was “Something went wrong in jet crash, experts say.” The headline and article below, while not reaching quite that level of sublime obviousness, is still strikingly… obvious: Economy took toll on symphony’s artistically bright year The economy has been playing the role of Scrooge, causing the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s[…]

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How the CD business could have been saved

If only the folks at the record companies had the marketing chops of whoever put together this little campaign:

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Thinking different about Pops

In the wake of the well-publicized downsizing of its guest artist roster for the 2009-10 season, the Minnesota Orchestra is going local to replace its principal pops conductor as well: The Minnesota Orchestra has named Sarah Hicks as principal conductor of pops and presentations, filling a vacancy left when Doc Severinsen retired two years ago.[…]

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Do orchestra managers make too much?

Due largely to the appointment of Allison Vulgamore as President and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, manager compensation is currently enjoying its 15 minutes of fame (although I doubt whether she is enjoying the spotlight on her current and future paystubs). The Philadelphia Inquirer has speculated on the subject, as has the New York Times,[…]

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The Fall Classic

You thought I was talking about baseball? Tonight is the last concert in our fall tour, one of my favorite annual orchestra events. Every year at about this time we go up north and play a few concerts, mostly in places to which we’ve been going for years.

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Change we can believe in

Surprisingly, the date on this was September 23 and not April 1: The Detroit Symphony has announced plans for a completely revamped season, starting with its concerts this week. The programs will not be changed, at least the ones advertised, but the manner in which the works are performed will be altered. To begin, the[…]

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This week's concessions

Indianapolis… Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians will take a 12 percent reduction in salary this season, followed by incremental increases in the second and third years of a newly ratified three-year contract. …Terms include salary increases of 2.7 percent for the 2010-11 season and 7.8 percent for the 2011-12 season. Musicians have agreed to greater individual[…]

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Are conductors ovepaid?

Yes and no. Both writers make good points. I find myself more in agreement with the “no” side, however. In the end, it’s the same as with most leadership positions. Good conductors are worth every cent of what they’re paid. Bad conductors are worth nada. The more interesting question is about the value of all[…]

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Noises off week in Wisconsin

So we’re in Marinette – right across the river from Menomonee, Michigan, the Banana Belt of the Upper Penninsula (where Yoopers come from) – playing a concert at Blesch High School, where the signs say “Catch the Blesch Spirit!” (and no I’m not kidding). We’re well into the slow movement of the Mendelssohn “Italian” symphony[…]

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