The Well-Tempered Ear

Classical music news: Classical musicians come to the aid of Japan with a concert and a recording. Sony steals two big ones from DG and EMI. Chicago maestro Riccardo Muti is back in form and function. Detroit Symphony and musicians reach a deal. LA gets more classical radio.

By Jacob Stockinger

Classical music has always seemed such a profoundly sympathetic or empathetic form of art that it comes as no surprise to The Ear that many individuals and  ensembles are coming to the aid of a disaster-sticken Japan.

Last week, I told you about violinist Hilary Hahn.

Now there are more, and I expect even more to follow suit in the coming days, weeks and months.

ITEM: Classical music and Universal Classics have teamed up to release and soothing digital only recording that will benefit Japan’s Red Cross. See the pieces and the performers:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/decca-and-dg-team-up-for-a-digital-only-charity-album

ITEM: Two major orchestras and maestros in Berlin – under Sir Simon Rattle and Daniel Barenboim – team up on the same stage on the same night to perform a benefit concert for UNICEF in Japan:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/a-unique-concert-for-japan

ITEM: Chicago Symphony Orchestra maestro Riccardo Muti is recovered, healthy and back in form and eager to get to work in Chicago:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-live-0330-muti-interview-20110329,0,3930957.column

ITEM: Some renewed wars for artists shifting labels seems to The Ear to suggest a renewed vitality to the commercial side of the classical music scene as the venerable yellow label Deutsche Grammophon and EMI lose two big ones – the Emerson String Quartet and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes – to Sony Classical.

Check out the news and the release plans for the first two recording from each:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/leif-ove-andsnes-signs-to-sony-classical

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/sony-signs-the-emerson-string-quartet

ITEM: The prolonged Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike may at least, and after much acrimony, be over:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/detroit-symphony-orchestra-has-tentative-deal/

ITEM: LA gets a second classical radio outlet:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/03/classical-music-to-get-a-second-radio-outlet-in-la-area.html