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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Selects Woman As Conductor

Despite strong opposition from musicians in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the board of the symphony has voted overwhelmingly to select Marin Alsop as its maestro or music director. She becomes the first woman to head a major American or European orchestra. Alsop is currently principal conductor at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Britain. She's a New York native. Now 48, she is the daughter of professional classical musicians. Alsop studied violin at the Juilliard School of Music. She trained as a conductor under Leonard Bernstein.

Many Baltimore musicians were disappointed by what they called the "premature conclusion of the search process." They felt the board disregarded their desire to have the search extended until Thanksgiving, the Associated Press reported.

Classical Music Thrives on the Web

Radio stations may be dropping classical musical formats, attendance at classical music concerts may be down in Britain and the United States, but the fan base for classical music is by no means dying, Sharon McDaniel of the Palm Beach Post writes. "Online at least, classical music has become healthy enough to scoff at the pallbearers."

Women Face Discrimination As Conductors, New Conductor Says

Women who aspire to be orchestra conductors face severe obstacles, says the new conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. Marin Alsop, music director laureate of the Colorado Symphony, who will conduct the Seattle symphony next week before embarking on her new conducing role in Amsterdam, according to the Seattle Times. She told the newspaper that she has faced discrimination as a woman conductor, especially in America. She was turned down for conducting roles with the Ravinia Festival and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, she suspects, because of sex discrimination. ""I've heard that (the rejections) were because I was a woman."

"I don't know if it's a glass ceiling, or a concrete or a fabric one, but it's definitely a ceiling. I'm very proud that I'm to become the first woman conductor in history to lead the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (of Amsterdam), but I'm also appalled. It's sort of surprising that one can still be the first woman in so many areas - in the 21st century."

Israeli-Arab Orchestra Gives Benefit Concert in Memory of Prof. Edward Said

August 5, 2004...The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra,
consisting of 32 young Israelis and 32 Arabs, gave a benefit concert Wednesday in London in memory of its late co-founder, Columbia University Professor Edward Said, who died a year ago. Nicknamed the 'Peace Orchestra,' the group has as its goal to use a mutual love of great music to create co-existence if not harmony between Arabs and Israelis. It seeks to perform frequently in Israel as well as all Arab countries. At the concert, they performed works by Beethoven (Piano Concerto No 3) and Tchaikovsky (Symphony No 5).

The orchestra was formed by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said in 1999, and brings together young musicians from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon to perform with some of the world's finest orchestral musicians. Barenboim, a world famous pianist and conductor of Jewish origin, and Said, a Palestinian intellectual, concert pianist, music critic, and educator, became great friends over their passion for great music.

When Said died last year at the age of 67 after a long battle with leukemia, Barenboim eulogized him this way: "The Palestinians have lost one of the most eloquent defenders of their aspirations. The Israelis have lost an adversary - but a fair and humane one. And I have lost a soul mate." In May, Barenboim was awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize, honoring his dedication to human rights causes and his commitment to bringing people together through music. The award was presented in a ceremony at the Knesset (Parliament) in Jerusalem.

Most of the musicians in the group say they are honored to be part of a peace mssion. But a number of Arab musicians said their prime motivation was to work with Barenboim, not to meet Israels, according to the BBC.