Random Monday: Choices, Noises and Bumps in the Night

It has been pins and needles here in my corner of the world.

Contract negotiations between Arizona Opera and the musicians have been a roller coaster ride. For myself it has occupied most of my time and this explains my absence of late here at Horn Matters.

Rest assured that I am still here, alive and kickin’…

Sarah’s Choice
Violin mega-star Sarah Chang was scheduled to play a concerto with the Detroit Symphony. When the musicians went on strike, a solo recital was re-scheduled.

Needless to say this upset quite a few people, myself included. Strikes are the nuclear option. It is a statement that everything has failed, and that nothing is left but to make a public protest.

Strikes are black-and-white. Lines are drawn in the sand. Musicians in this scenario should ideally stick together and thankfully Ms. Chang conceded and has canceled her performance. While I presume that her statement of “physical threats and career intimidation” is just smoke-and-mirrors to save face and exercise damage control, I really can’t help but wonder why Ms. Chang’s representation placed her in such an awkward position.

It is difficult, but not entirely implausible, to believe that any musician could be so out-of-touch and elitist. Of course, the DSO is playing this up as a case of harassment.

• Karl’s Choice
  Karl Pituch played some Punto with the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra.

• Musicians and noise
  Most musicians I know tend to be fairly stoic about their ears. In “These Go to Eleven, The Problem of Noisy Orchestras” we get a glimpse into the London scene.

• With auditions, its just a matter of perception
  The optical illusion on this page says it all I think.

• A great recipe
  “How to Cook a Conductor.” A classic stew.

Random videos

A very nice mash-up video using the opening to Rhinegold and a snippet from Holst added to animated footage to illustrate the story of Siegfried.

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As a contrast, here is a different Siegfried.

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The repertoire for brass trio – trumpet, horn and trombone – is fairly slim. Here is a new one for me.

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This is what happens when you get bored in the middle of the night.