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chicago symphony

artistic administrator vs. music director

by Charles Noble on August 4, 2009

With Christian Thielmann leaving Munich, and Mario Venzago fired from Indianapolis, it’s interesting to note that both departures (though one was the conductor quitting and the other was the conductor being dismissed) are closely related to the overlapping of two roles in the symphony orchestra hierarchy: the artistic administrator and the music director.
For a long [...]

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video screens @ symphony concerts – good or bad?

by Charles Noble on August 4, 2009 · 3 comments

I came across an article from today’s Chicago Sun-Times which asserts the success of the jumbotron-style video screens at the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony.  As usual, this has engendered the tired arguments between the crusty old salts and the fresh-faced ingenues as to what a travesty/triumph these screens have turned out [...]

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lisitsa wows chi-town

by Charles Noble on March 15, 2009 · 2 comments

Helene Grimaud – will rue the day
Photo: Mat Hennek/DG

Valentina Lisitsa – saved the day
Photo: Iran Issa-Khan

Pianist Helene Grimaud spaced out and learned the wrong Beethoven concerto for her planned CSO appearances this weekend, and Portland favorite Valentina Lisitsa was called in to pinch hit for the Beethoven Emperor Concerto.  Grimaud recently recorded the piece, so [...]

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pesky string players

by Charles Noble on October 16, 2008

Bassist Michael Hovnanian, member of a Major Midwestern Orchestra With a Notably Loud Brass Section, wrote a hilarious description of guest conductor Jaap van Zweeden rehearsing Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony:
The Dutch violinist turned conductor spent more rehearsal time than normal dealing with the strings; in a work such as the Bruckner an endeavor akin to lifting [...]

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conductors, redux

by Charles Noble on May 7, 2008 · 2 comments

Towards the end of any orchestra’s season, you tend to hear a lot (make that a LOT) of armchair quarterbacking by the rank and file about the leadership of any conductor within rock throwing range. Some even make the entire organization’s woes solely the responsibility of the stick waver. I’m sure that’s gratifying [...]

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