by Liane Curtis - April 9, 2012
A New York Times article explores and explains the conductors job, how “he or she makes music’s meaning clear through body motion.”
We are happy that Xian Zhang is included as one of seven conductors interviewed in the article, and featured with a photograph as well. The article is fascinating, but I do wonder if a bit of gender bias played out in that Zhang’s professional role is not pointed out—we don’t learn about where she works or her title. The conductors were all interviewed ”as they passed through New York in recent seasons” and in Zhang’s case it was only mentioned that she was working with a student orchestra at Julliard. Harry Bicket also does not have any position clarified, but at least he has some description, as an early-music specialist and British.
But this only really matters in the paper version (which I read first)—online the conductors get links to their websites. Zhang has been discussed earlier on this blog; for the record, she serves as Music Director of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi and Artistic Director of the NJO / Dutch Orchestra.
Filed: conductors, orchestras | Tagged: conductors, diversity, Xian Zhang | No Comments »
by Liane Curtis - March 2, 2012
The Rochester Philharmonic just announced its 2012-13 Season. In his second season, Maestro Arild Remmereit will continue the orchestra’s exploration of great works by women, both historic and contemporary.
As we mentioned in our earlier post, we are thrilled to see the orchestra making this commitment to women. Remmereit recently served as keynote speaker at the annual fundraising luncheon of the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum. Emphasizing his commitment to women composers, he stated that music “is a necessity and shouldn’t just be in the hands of very few.” What GREAT NEWS! Happy Women’s History Month, but also nice to think that women aren’t only for March anymore!
Filed: composers, conductors, news, orchestras, repertoire | Tagged: Arild Remmereit, conductors, diversity, repertoire, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan B. Anthony House and Museum, the Canon | No Comments »
by sarah - January 25, 2010
Tom Service, blogger with The Guardian, recently interviewed British conductor Julia Jones.
Not surprisingly, the questions for the maestro focused on her gender instead of her repertoire. At least it was noted by Service himself:
You can probably guess the line of questioning that had been annoying her in interviews she’s been giving to the British press: her gender, and the sexual politics she has inadvertently had to face in her career, like, for example, when the Italians made a fuss of her being the first woman to conduct Wagner there. (Mozart or Rossini would not have been a story, but the perceived Teutonic machismo of Wagner was another matter.)
Service also goes on to note that the presence of a woman on a podium continues to be an unusual occurrence in the UK, even as it is becoming less remarkable in the US and Europe. Jones herself commented:
It’s only in England that I get asked questions like this”, she said, whereas in Portugal, or Vienna, or Berlin, or even America, it’s not an issue.
Though there are still marked inequities in the music world in general, and in conducting specifically, progress is being made. Service reports that:
In Lisbon, half of the six conducting jobs in the city are taken by women – which makes Jones remarkably unremarkable over there, and allows her to concentrate on musical questions rather than what should be outdated sexual politics. That ratio is also, of course, the ideal gender balance.
The full piece can be found here.
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by sarah - June 1, 2009
The Baltimore Sun just announced that Marin Alsop’s contract with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has been extended until “at least” 2015!
The article, linked here, expresses the excitement that conductor and musicians felt at the development. Perhaps a quote from the conductor says it best, “I’m very, very happy about it.” And I think Alsop’s quote is also representative of the those of us who all-too-clearly remember the resistance that was first felt just three years ago when she was originally appointed to the position. Alsop commented further on her personal website:
My work so far with the Baltimore Symphony has been the thrill of a lifetime. Our progress over the past two seasons is the epitome of collaboration. The dedication and talent of the BSO musicians, the business oversight and support from the board, the vision and unbridled energy from our management and staff, and the community’s enthusiasm and imagination for music—it has taken all of these ingredients to bring the BSO to this level of music-making. I cannot imagine leading a more exciting and progressive orchestra.
Alsop’s work at the Baltimore Symphony is well documented, and highly praised. In her time as music director she has led the organization of an after-school program for children, significantly increased attendance at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and led the orchestra in recording projects – the first in nearly ten years. According to the feature article Alsop has future hopes, (not in-the-works plans) of a summer series.
But the work of this conductor hardly begins and ends in Maryland. Her devotion to education outreach also extends to a series at NPR where she discusses composers and their works. Her latest piece was on none other than Jennifer Higdon and the friendship that the two women have shared throughout their careers. Though they do approach the dreaded “woman conductor/composer” question, if only to get it out of the way, the 12 minute piece, which was inspired by the June 4th performance of Higdon’s Violin Concerto (performed by Hilary Hahn), does handle the questions with grace. And, as seems to always be the case, they end with more questions than what they began with. I do recommend giving the story a listen-to, if only to become more acquainted with Higdon’s work as they shared samples of her Percussion Concerto, Soprano Sax Concerto, and Blue Cathedral. (Fuller versions are also available through the NPR website.)
So we can be glad for the continued work of Marin Alsop being recognized and continued. And we can also be glad for Marin Alsop conducting a work by Jennifer Higdon and performed by Hilary Hahn. We can’t deny that we’re moving forward! I’m sure we can all look forward to more great things from Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony in the years to come!
Photo from: http://www.marinalsop.com/photos.php?img=3
Filed: conductors, news | Tagged: Baltimore Symphony, conductors, Hilary Hahn, in the news, Jennifer Higdon, Marin Alsop | No Comments »
