May 17, 2013   |
| | | Thought of the Day | The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. --Joseph Campbell |
| Quote of the Week | | Learning is pleasurable but doing is the height of enjoyment. --Novalis |
| | Boston Symphony Names Music Director |  Andris Nelsons is to be the next music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, starting with the 2014-15 season and succeeding James Levine, whose seven-year tenure ended in 2011 and was often interrupted by health problems. In fact, it was one of Levine's cancelled concerts that marked the then 32-year-old Latvian conductor's debut with the orchestra, conducting Mahler's Symphony No. 9 at Carnegie Hall in March 2011. Nelsons, who started in the profession as a trumpet player in the Latvian National Opera Orchestra, has signed a five-year contract with the BSO. Next season he holds the official title of music director designate. Also music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Nelsons is among the hot, young maestros currently on arts administrators' wish lists, along with names like Nézet-Séguin, Dudamel, and Pablo Heras-Casado. |
Lincoln Center Turns to Broadway for New President |  Jed Bernstein, a high-profile Broadway producer and administrator, is to succeed Reynold Levy as president of Lincoln Center in January 2014. He will have large shoes to fill. Bernstein, who served for 11 years (until 2006) as president of the Broadway League, is the current Bucks County (PA) producing director and the prime mover behind Above the Title Entertainment. In the latter capacity, he has been producer/investor/promoter of such Broadway hits as Passing Strange and the revivals of Equus, Hair, and Driving Miss Daisy. The Broadway League is a trade organization whose 700-strong membership is comprised almost entirely of commercial, for-profit producers. Lincoln Center, of course, is a non-profit entity, so Bernstein may need some on-the-job training in raising funds that don't generate material returns on investment. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, himself worth millions, called the 58-year-old Bernstein "the perfect choice." |
| | | Evolving Revolving Door at IMG Artists |  IMG Artists continues to add new staff as the old guard exits for assorted reasons. Latest addition is Lorna Aizlewood, with the title of managing director, Europe, and general counsel. Aizlewood started her own firm just over one year ago. Previously she was for five years VP of legal and business affairs for EMI Classics. She has also worked for Universal and the BBC.
In his comments, IMG Artist President and CEO Jerry Inzerillo cited the "current global restructuring of IMGA," noting its goal to "diversify the opportunities for our artists" and Aizlewood's entertainment-industry background as an ideal fit for that. She reports to Inzerillo, who himself is a relative newcomer to the firm. Early this month, IMG Artists announced Kristin Lancino as its new executive director out of New York. Two weeks prior to that, Alec Treuhaft abruptly resigned. as senior vice president and director of client management in New York. |
| Major Changes at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center |  As previously announced, Norma Hurlburt, longtime executive director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, has decided to step down. Succeeding her as of July 1 is Suzanne Davidson, who currently oversees development and alumni relations at the New York Law School. An entertainment lawyer by training, Davidson is onetime president of the School of American Ballet and co-chief operating officer of the Stigwood Group, Ltd., which produced Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Her connection to chamber music appears to be avocational. Coincident with Hurlburt's departure and Davidson's arrival, the Society has extended the contract of Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, through the 2018-19 season. MA.com subscribers read the full story |
| Berlin Staatsoper Renovation Costs Soar (Again) |  BERLIN--The cost of renovating the 18th-century Staatsoper Unter den Linden has soared another 54 million euros, to nearly 300 million euros. When reconstruction began in 2010, the cost was projected to be 240 million euros, with a reopening in 2013. As expenses mushroomed, the unveil date was moved to 2015. Now even that seems unrealistic. The latest unanticipated hurdle is the discovery of ground water and wooden posts where a tunnel between the main house and an adjacent warehouse space had been planned. Constructing a new roof also has posed a tremendous challenge. Meanwhile, reports Der Tagesspiegel, the cost to the government for the ensemble's temporary residence across town in the Schiller Theater is approximately 250 euros per seat per night. |
| Safe and Sorry |  From Rough and Regie by James Jorden It may have been Robert A. Heinlein or Napoleon Bonaparte who first crafted that variation on Occam's Razor "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." But whoever said it, in whatever century and in whatever language, it certainly seems to apply to the fiasco that is the Deutsche Oper am Rhein's Tannhäuser. Not that we're talking about the production per se here; no one really knows much about what really transpired onstage besides the first-night audience who actually saw it, minus that subset who slammed the doors on the way out of the theater and those mysteriously delicate Düsseldorfers whose exposure to imagery from the recent past landed them in the ER. |
| Broad term Limits--The Kindest Cut of All? | | To submit a question to GG Arts Law write to Dear Law and Disorder: We are a small non-profit that runs a performing arts center. In updating our by-laws, its been recommended that we establish term limits for our directors and officers, as well as a formal nominating committee. Do we really need such formalities? We're very small and don't have any other committees. Can't the board itself select its own members and officers? And it seems a mistake to force directors to leave when they are willing to continue to serve on our board. What do you recommend to your clients? Read the full story |
| A Performer with a Passion for Teaching |  From Ask Edna by Edna Landau Anyone who has read my blog over the past year knows that I am fascinated by the career trajectories of successful people. This week, I have chosen to spotlight a much admired viola professor. My first introduction to Barbara Westphal was in the early 1980's when she was violist of the Delos String Quartet, based at the University of Delaware, and Charles Hamlen and I signed them to the Hamlen/Landau Management roster. There was no way to predict at that time that she would become one of the most prominent and sought after viola teachers of our time. She left the quartet in 1985 and I totally lost contact with her. When I started teaching at the Colburn School in 2008, a number of students who were moving on to graduate studies spoke about her with considerable reverence and mentioned that they hoped to have the opportunity to study with her. Curious about her personal journey since the time our communication left off, I decided to call her recently and make up for lost time. Thanks to her American manager, Melody Bunting, I was able to accomplish this rather easily. |
| Latest Roster Changes |  Musical America is helping presenters keep up with its advertisers! Managers whose rosters appear in the 2013 edition of the Musical America Directory should write to listings@musicalamerica.com with the names of artists and attractions that have been either added or removed, and please be sure to indicate "added" or "removed." Albright, Charles, piano, added, Arts Management Group
Barkakaty, Biraj, countertenor, added, MIA Artists Management
Cardin, Kacey, soprano, added, MIA Artists Management
Ciccaglione, Maria, soprano, added, MIA Artists Management
Holmes, Christopher, baritone, added, MIA Artists Management
Katz, Cheri-Rose, mezzo-soprano, removed, Bel Canto Global Arts
Kranak, Chad, tenor, added, MIA Artists Management
Mackintosh, Eileen, soprano, added, MIA Artists Management
Manasse, Jon, clarinet, added, Arts Management Group
Nelson, John, conductor, added, Kaylor Management
Park, Jinwon, soprano, added, MIA Artists Management
Robles, Fabian, tenor, added, MIA Artists Management
Tharaud, Alexandre, piano, added, Opus 3 Artists
Zivic, Gisela, soprano, added, MIA Artists Management
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