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September 24, 2021

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At the Lyric Opera of Chicago: Verdi’s Macbeth a Landmark Opening CHICAGO—After 18 months of no live performances, it was a gala event in its own right. But Macbeth also marked Enrique Mazzola’s first staging as the new music director, the role debut of Sondra Radvanovsky as Lady Macbeth, and a new production by Sir David McVicar. FULL STORY

Riccardo Muti Extends in Chicago Muti will remain music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, extending a contract that expires this season by one year, to the end of 2022-23. Beyond that, his future with the CSO is anybody’s guess, one that the orchestra declines to clarify. FULL STORY

Andrew Ousley wears two hats: One as publicist, one as producer. In the former guise, he is the president of Unison media, a marketing and public relations firm he founded in 2015 with a mission to “tell a better story about classical music.” As a producer, he is best known for two New York concert series: "The Crypt Sessions" and "The Angel’s Share," both of which fall under the rubric Death of Classical. In his One to One, he explains the "cheeky" (his word) moniker.   He also talks about how classical music is evolving, crossing boundary lines and genres, how the pandemic had encouraged individual artists to become their own media hosts and producers, and how coming from a non-classical background has better enabled him to guide his clients in telling that "better story." ********* Next on One to One: Wayne S. Brown, president and CEO of Michigan Opera Theater, originator of last season’s Twilight: Gods, this season’s Blue, and next year’s X, Life and Times of Malcolm X.

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For Your Consideration: TENET Vocal Artists’ Green Mountain Project Acclaimed for its innovative programming, virtuosic singing, and command of repertoire, TENET Vocal Artists' Green Mountain Project recording of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 is under consideration for a GRAMMY® nomination in two categories: 1) Chamber/Small Ensemble Performance 2) Engineering, Classical If you are a voting member, please consider supporting our recording in both categories. https://tenet.nyc/for-your-consideration

Met Opera Names New Host for Radio Broadcasts Debra Lew Harder, a classical host and producer for Temple University’s WRTI-FM, as well as a concert pianist and a medical doctor, is to be the new host of the broadcasts, succeeding Mary Jo Heath, who retired in May after five years. FULL STORY

San Antonio Symphony Musicians Reject Management's “Final” Offer Management’s “last, best and final offer,” rejected by the players last weekend, proposes to cut three things: base pay from $35,774 to $24,000, the season from 31 weeks to 24, and the complement of full-time musicians from 72 to 42. FULL STORY

Another Music Director to Resign from Pandemic PTSD Jaap van Zweden isn’t the only music director for whom the pandemic has caused a change in priorities. Alasdair Neale, a Brit, will exit as music director of the Marin (CA) and New Haven (CT) symphonies. “The pandemic has shifted my goals and dreams.” FULL STORY

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” —Emile Zola

The NIE Wall to Come Down! From Law and Disorder by GG Arts Law It’s so rare that I get to share anything positive in the world of artist visas that I still find myself wondering if I have inadvertently fallen through the matrix into someplace where it is not 2021. The White House announced on September 20, 2021, that in “early November” it would be lifting the current U.S. COVID travel ban with regard to fully vaccinated travelers having to obtain a National Interest Exception (“NIE”) waiver in order to enter the U.S. from Europe, the U.K., Brazil, South Africa, India, and China. FULL STORY

Latest Roster Changes  Musical America is helping presenters keep up with its advertisers! Managers whose rosters appear in the 2021 edition of the Musical America Directory should write to listings@musicalamerica.com with the names of artists and attractions that have been either added or removed, and please be sure to indicate "added" or "removed." New This Week Malfatti, Maria Novella, soprano, added, IMG Artists (General Management)

100+ YEARS AGO IN MUSICAL AMERICA 4 June 1921 IN THE EDEN-SETTING OF CARUSO’S TUSCAN VILLA Tenor’s Return to “Villa Bellosguardo” Recalls to Maurice Halperson Vivid Memories of His Sojourn There—Mansion Commands Magnificent Scenic Picture—Famous Home of the Counts Pucci Explored from Inside—Caruso in the Rôle of Squire and Head-Farmer  SEE THE ORIGINAL PAGE, READ THE STORY See all articles posted weekly from 5 July 1913 on ...

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