The Well-Tempered Ear

Classical music news: Classical musicians hold more benefits for Japan where Placido Domingo will sing. Bankruptcy plagues orchestras. Grammys cut back on classical music. Mexico’s opera composer Daniel Catan dies. Western classical music continues to thrive in Asia.

By Jacob Stockinger

This week brings a lot of action among symphony orchestras, ranging from helping Japan to declaring bankruptcy and cancelling tours. But there is also news for opera fans and piano fans. And there is also proof of how classical music continues to thrive in Asia.

ITEM: Detroit Symphony (below top) finally reaches a deal and performs for free to shouts of joy while the Syracuse Symphony (below bottom) files for bankruptcy and the famed Philadelphia Orchestra contemplates bankruptcy to survive:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/arts/music/detroit-symphony-returns-from-strike-to-a-giddy-reception.html?_r=1&ref=classicalmusic

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june11/symphony_04-11.html

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/post_411.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/16/arts/music/philadelphia-orchestra-may-file-for-bankruptcy.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

ITEM: The New York Philharmonic (below) cancels a trip to Cuba – for a second time:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/new-york-philharmonic-cancels-cuba-trip/

ITEM: New York City Opera company (housed at Lincoln Center, below) is in trouble:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704013604576249123210258378.html

ITEM: No more Best Classical Album of the Year: Grammys cut back on classical categories:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/04/07/135204990/bye-bye-best-classical-album

ITEM: Here is more proof that Asia – especially China, Japan and Korea — is the land of promise and high growth for Western classical music:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/seoul-philharmonic-signs-to-dg

ITEM: Mexican opera composer Daniel Catan (below), famed for “Il Postino,” is dead at 62:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/04/11/135316948/daniel-cat-n-composer-of-lyrical-operas-dead-at-62

ITEM: EMI label joins others to help disaster-stricken Japan:

http://members.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=emifamily4japan

ITEM: The Vienna Philharmonic (below) will perform a benefit concert for Japan:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/news/20110412p2g00m0et100000c.html

ITEM: Superstar tenor Placido Domingo (below) honors a commitment to perform in Japan while other classical performers have cancelled appearances there:

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2011/04/07/Domingos-shows-will-go-on-in-Japan/UPI-34221302204110/

ITEM: What’s the matter with England? Nothing is you are a formidable prodigy like Benjamin Grosvenor (below).  Decca signs its first British pianist in 60 years:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/benjamin-grosvenor-signs-to-decca