Minnesota Orchestra dispute resolved

[DublinJimbo]

This may be old news to other boarders, but I've only now found out that the dispute between management and the Minnesota Orchestra has been resolved.

The musicians posted an open letter on their blog on 14th January, and a follow-up of thanks three days later. The Orchestra returns to Orchestra Hall with four homecoming concerts beginning on 7th February. Details of the full 2014 season are to be announced later this month.

Whatever one's views about the rights and wrongs of the dispute, it is good news that it has been resolved. Of course, the saddest consequence of the situation has been the departure of Osmo Vänskä, whose work with the orchestra has been so transforming.

[bluestateprommer]

Interesting recent commentary from the NYT's James R. Oestreich on the Minnesota Orchestra situation, where he acknowledges his "outsider" status:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/arts/music/minnesota-orchestra-drama-plays-on.html

It's pretty evident that just about everyone outside of the orchestra's board of directors wants Osmo Vänskä to return, except that ultimately the board's decision is the one that matters the most, since they are the ones with authority to OK or not OK an offer to any given conductor. I suspect there are some quiet voices on the board who will lobby for Vänskä's return, but who's to say if they'll have more influence with a new board chair at the helm.

[bluestateprommer]

Well, the unthinkable has happened, namely that the Minnesota Orchestra Association has seen sense, and rehired Osmo Vanska back as music director, on a 2 year contract:

Official orchestra announcement: http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/ab...nska-to-return

Star-Tribune article: http://www.startribune.com/entertain...256589871.html

NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/ar...ref=music&_r=0

I don't think that there will be a way to bring the Minnesota Orchestra back for that originally scheduled Sibelius symphony cycle in next year's Proms, at a guess. OTOH, weirder things have happened in life. In any case, good for the Minnesota Orchestra here.

[bluestateprommer]

Minnesota Orchestra, Vanska, Hilary Hahn @ Carnegie Hall

From WQXR's website, you can listen to the recent concert by the Minnesota Orchestra, Hilary Hahn and Osmo Vanska at Carnegie Hall recently:

http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/hilary-hahn-and-minnesota-play-sibelius/

Other related light reading from the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/arts/music/the-minnesota-orchestra-rebounds-from-a-near-death-experience.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/arts/music/review-the-minnesota-orchestras-white-light-and-white-heat.html

Zachary Woolfe's NYT review is a curious review, in that it rather short-shrifts the First Symphony, but his heart is in the right place at the end with this call:

"Offering no fewer than three encores - heartfelt, elegant Sibelius pieces - the musicians seemed reluctant to leave the stage, perhaps because they didn’t know when they would return. A Carnegie spokeswoman had written earlier in the day to say that there were no plans to complete the originally scheduled cycle. But for the sake of New York’s music lovers - and the sake of Sibelius - the hall should invite this orchestra back, and soon."

Not to mention for the sake of the Minnesota Orchestra, which may go w/o saying.

[Bryn]

From WQXR's website, you can listen to the recent concert by the Minnesota Orchestra, Hilary Hahn and Osmo Vanska at Carnegie Hall recently:

http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/hilary-hahn-and-minnesota-play-sibelius/

Other related light reading from the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/arts/music/the-minnesota-orchestra-rebounds-from-a-near-death-experience.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/arts/music/review-the-minnesota-orchestras-white-light-and-white-heat.html

Zachary Woolfe's NYT review is a curious review, in that it rather short-shrifts the First Symphony, but his heart is in the right place at the end with this call:



Not to mention for the sake of the Minnesota Orchestra, which may go w/o saying.

Many thanks for that. Pity is not 320kbps aac, but 128kbps mp3 is a good deal better than you get from BBC Radio 3 over there. Do please keep us posted on such online availability. Good to hear that New York audiences also know how to show approbation between movements.

[Nick Armstrong]

Many thanks for that. Pity is not 320kbps aac, but 128kbps mp3 is a good deal better than you get from BBC Radio 3 over there. Do please keep us posted on such online availability. Good to hear that New York audiences also know how to show approbation between movements.

One of my three most-listened to US radio stations is Classical MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) - here plus it's also one of the pre-sets on iTunes - also at 128kbps. Apart from a recent distressing tendency to play the 'Downton Abbey' theme music a lot (the 'finale' recently aired in the US), the selections are often good, and it gives lots of coverage - naturally - to the Minnesota Orchestra, which in turn supports the station.

[Tevot]

Many thanks to both BlueState and Caliban for these links. I have some listening to do



Best Wishes,

Tevot

[richardfinegold]

Hopefully they finish their Sibelius Cycle

[Bryn]

Hopefully they finish their Sibelius Cycle

Oh I think that pretty much inevitable.