Classical Music USA

Spem in Alium presented as Gallery Installation

An installation opened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York this week based on Byrd's 40-part motet Spem in Alium.

The installation, which was designed by Canadian artist Janet Cardiff, involves 40 loud speakers arranged in a circle, each playing an individual line from the motet. Cardiff explained "When I heard [the motet] I just felt I wanted to hear the forty parts. That was what appealed to me about the piece, that it was so multidimensional and polyphonic."

The work was first exhibited at the museum in 2006, and has now returned as part of the Lincoln Center's White Light Festival, which explores the relationship between music and spirituality.

The installation will be on display at MOMA until 13 November.

Maurice Murphy, legendary former principal trumpet of the LSO has died

The death has been announced of Maurice Murphy, who was for 30 years the principal trumpeter of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Murphy's early musical training was in the brass band world, and his first major appointment was as solo cornet with the Black Dyke Mills Band when still in his early 20s.

Early orchestral experience came via brief stints with the Hallé and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. From 1961 he held the position of principal trumpet with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, now the BBC Philharmonic.

His move to the London Symphony in 1977 coincided with the earliest John Williams soundtracks to be recorded by the orchestra. For many, his greatest moment came with the recording of the soundtrack for Star Wars, and in particular the fanfares that accompany the opening sequence of the film.

Murphy officially retired from the LSO in 2000, but he was persuaded to continue on an annually renewed contract until 2007. He was appointed MBE in the 2010 New Years Honours list.

Ádám Fischer quits Hungarian National Opera over Government Interference

Conductor Ádám Fischer has announced that he will be stepping down as Musical Director of Hungarian National Opera because of recent interventions by the national government in the running of the company.

HNO is currently facing a financial crisis, and last Friday the company's director Lajos Vass was fired because of financial irregularities. The company's deficit now runs at around $5m.

According to Fischer, the crisis has been exacerbated by government intervention. He told a Hungarian newspaper "Whatever happens, everyone runs to see a politician friend, and that friend will see about getting what they want."

However, Fischer will continue to work with the company in the newly created role of Honorary Chief Musical Director, although his specific duties have yet to be decided.

Desmond Tutu condemns Cape Town Opera visit to Israel

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has written to the Cape Town Opera company criticising their planned tour to Israel.

Tutu compares the Israeli treatment of Palestinians to apartheid-era racial discrimination in South Africa and argues that "Cape Town Opera should postpone its proposed tour next month until both Israeli and Palestinian opera lovers of the region have equal opportunity and unfettered access to attend performances."

The work planned for the Tel Aviv performances is Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and Tutu writes that it is "unconscionable" to perform the opera under the circumstances given its "universal message of nondiscrimination."

Hanna Munitz, General Director of Israel Opera, responded by claiming that the tour had artistic rather than political aims. She said that both her organisation and Cape Town Opera "relate to culture as a bridge, the aim of which is to be above any political dispute. Furthermore, the fact of the matter is that very big performance companies arrive in Israel from abroad all the time."

Archbishop Tutu is an outspoken critic of the Israeli government and has also called on South African academics to boycott the country.

Yulianna Avdeyeva controversial winner of Chopin Piano Competition

The 16th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw has awarded the top prize to Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeyeva, the first female champion in 45 years.

But controversy has dogged the competiton. The prize is decided by an expert panel and a public vote, but the public voted overwhelmingly in favour of Ingolf Wunder, who was awarded second place overall, leading many in Poland to question the result. Avdeyeva appears to have given a technically flawless performance in the finals, but lacked the flair and charisma that endeared other competitors to television audiences.

It is not the first time the competition has faced controversy. In 1995, Aleksey Sultanov refused to accept the second prize, saying he deserved the first prize, which was not awarded. And in 1990, Martha Argerich, who was a member of the judging panel, walked out after her favourite Ivo Pogorelich failed to make the final round.

New Violinist joins Juilliard String Quartet

The Juilliard String Quartet has announced that it will be joined next year by a new first violinist, 32 year old Joseph Lin. He will be only the fourth person to hold the position in the 64 year history of the ensemble.

Lin replaces Nick Eanet, who joined the quartet last season but who has had to withdraw for health reasons.

The position also has a teaching post attached, and Lin will become a Professor of Violin at the Juilliard School. Lin currently holds a similar position at Cornell, but is currently on study leave in China studying East Asian music.

'Molitor' Stradivarius sells for $3.6m

A 1697 Stradivari violin has set a new musical instrument price record when it sold at auction this week for $3.6m.

The instrument was bought by violinist Anne Akiko Meyers who commented "Its power, feel and range of colour are extraordinary."

As well as its excellent condition, interest in the instrument has also been stimulated by its provenance, which includes a string of distinguished previous owners. According to more than one source, the violin was once the property of Napoleon. It later belonged to a general in Napoleon's army, Count Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Molitor, and in the 20th century passed through the hands of the William Hill Company and the Curtis Institute, who provided it on long-term loan to Jascha Brodsky.

The previous record price for a musical instrument was set by the "Hammer" Stradivarius when it fetched $3.54 at Christie's, New York in 2006.

Percy Grainger Museum reopens in Melbourne

One of the worlds only autobiographical museums reopened last weekend after a three year restoration project. The Grainger Museum at Melbourne University was instigated and funded by the composer himself, and contains a vast array of his possessions and memorabilia.

As well as musical items, scores and adapted instruments, the collection also contains items that relate to other aspects of his unusual lifestyle. Sadomasochism and pornography were two of his more colourful hobbies, and the new displays include examples of his explicit photography and whips with which he beat himself.

The museum closed in 2007 following the discovery of rising damp in the building. Its reopening has provided an opportunity to reassess some of the more controversial aspects of his personality, and the displays are less coy than in the past, not only about the composer's sexual habits but also his problematic racial politics, specifically his ardent and life-long anti-Semitism.

But it is the pornography that has been causing the most debate in the months leading up to the reopening. Grainger himself was cautious about its public display following Eugene Goosens' arrest on pornography charges in 1956. Australian attitudes are clearly more liberal these days, and the curators are confident that nothing on display contravenes any federal laws.

The Grainger Museum at the University of Melbourne Parkville Campus is open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 1-4.30pm. Visit the website:

http://www.grainger.unimelb.edu.au/

Terra Firma takes Citigroup to court over EMI

A court court case is scheduled to begin in New York today to decide the future finances of EMI. The hedge fund Terra Firma is seeking damages from the Citigroup bank, alleging that it was deceived into paying over the asking price for the record label in 2007.

David Wormsley, a financial advisor to Citigroup, is said to have told Terra Firma that another bidder was still interested in the purchase when this was no longer the case. Citigroup claim that the Terra Firma bid had already been agreed before the conversation took place.

Terra Firma are also seeking a restructuring of their debt to the bank. Their recent financial problems have threatened the EMI pension fund to the point where pension regulators had been obliged to intervene. However, the £197m needed to cover the shortfall has recently been secured and will be paid into the pension fund in instalments until 2016.

Auditions open for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011

 

YouTube looks set to repeat its most successful foray into the world of classical music with a second online orchestra project. Performers are invited to audition for a place in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011. The auditions will take two forms, and applicants can choose either to upload a video of themselves performing a set excerpt on an orchestral instrument or can submit an improvised performance.

The applications will be put to the public vote via YouTube, and the winners will be offered a place in the ensemble, which this time will meet in Sydney and will be conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

To find out more and audition visit the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 channel.