Big Changes In Store For Chicago

ADAPTISTRATION-GUY-066

The rumors were confirmed yesterday by way of official news that Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) president Deborah Rutter will become the new president of the Kennedy Center in September, 2014. This is probably some of the best news the Kennedy Center could hope for following the departure of former president Michael Kaiser but that gain comes as a loss for the CSO, which is now in the unenviable position of needing …

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"Failure Begins At The Top"

Today’s headline is an excerpt from a piece by San Francisco Chronicle music critic, Joshua Kosman, in an article that was published on 6/19/2011. Kosman’s article is the latest in a growing chorus of voices within the extended field that are taking a much harder look at the root of problems among performing arts organizations since the economic downturn…

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Just Don’t Call It A Merger

Last week, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Washington National Opera (WNO) announced that both organizations have adopted a similar relationship that the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) shares with the Kennedy Center. Officially, it is called an affiliation as the WNO retains their independent 501(c)3 status, but in a more practical sense the deal is a straightforward acquisition…

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So No Hard Feelings Then?

When will folks learn that just because you give an interview in a non-English media outlet that doesn’t mean word won’t get back to the U.S.? The latest transgression instance comes from conductor Christoph Eschenbach who told Die Welt (English translation via Google) that he thinks the Philadelphia Orchestra management during his time there as music director was “incompetent” and that they “lie.” He continued by reportedly accusing them of mismanagement that directly led to the orchestra’s current economic condition…

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Thanks For the Cash But We’ll Need To See Your ID

There’s a sticky situation surrounding the now incarcerated investing magnate Alberto Vilar’s alleged indiscretions. The U.S. government has charged Mr. Vilar with three fraud related counts including defrauding a client of $5 million and using a high six-figure portion of those funds to make good on several defaulted pledges to performing arts organizations; including high profile groups such as The New York Philharmonic and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing …

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