But here was the quote I wanted to focus on: “Meteocrity bores me. Actually it angers me.”
Our businesses – be it music theatre or opera – could learn something from the fashion industry and the formidable Ms. Wintour.
What if we allowed meteocrity to bore us? And thus, DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT?! Why must we be satisfied with the lowest common denominator? Why can’t we strive for something larger than ourselves, and present artists and productions that dare to elevate the art, instead of just make people comfortable?
I’m sure the majority of readers know about Terry Riley’s “In C”:
Here’s part of the first recording made:
And here’s a more recent recording, talking about the work and showing the musicians rehearsing (including Sid Chen, who blogged about the experience):
And now there’s a clever site called in Bb. Check it out and play around with it! 🙂
So far, I’ve found no “In A-440”.
(April 7, 2009) Facing a $3 million debt and an endowment down a quarter, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announced Monday a second round of salary cuts. Its 95 unionized musicians will see their paychecks drop by 5 percent through 2010, with a 3.8 percent cut in 2011.
(April 8, 2009) Some administrators and musicians of the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera are taking pay cuts of 10 percent or more to make up for an anticipated budget shortfall.
RTWT
(April 25, 2009) When the San Antonio Symphony first-chair violinist, representing all the musicians, takes the Majestic Theater stage next Friday and Saturday, the entire orchestra deserves a standing ovation, even before playing a bar of music.
The orchestra players have made an unselfish sacrifice to keep performing arts going in San Antonio. The recession has pulled the rug out from under the symphony’s best-laid financial plans. The musicians didn’t resist when the symphony board declared a financial emergency and opened contract negotiations, even though the musicians are only in the second year of a four-year contract.
They are taking a 14 percent pay cut for the last five weeks of the current season and a 15 percent cut below what their 2009-10 salaries were supposed to be.
RTWT
(May 17, 2009) Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians have agreed to a 2.5 percent salary reduction and will donate additional services as part of institution-wide budget cuts designed to save the orchestra an estimated $4 million through the 2010-11 season. The salary cuts are part of a general cost-cutting plan designed to ensure financial stability amid the nation’s economic meltdown.
The list goes on, of course. This article covers a number of groups.
But the good news? They all still have jobs. As do I. I prefer to look at the bright side. Just because I can.
Feel free to add your orchestra to the list by leaving a comment.
Nikolai Kedrov: Ochte Nash
