It's KBAQ's "This week in classical music" -- an update on what's happening in the classical music world... I'm Randy Kinkel.

Some Seattle Symphony Musicians are not so happy with the renewal of conductor Gerard Schwarz's contract. The grumbling and infighting within the symphony between the pro-schwarz and anti-schwarz camps has apparently come to the point of sophomoric and even dangerous acts of vandalism. Schwarz Supporter and friend John Cerminaro, the orchestra's principal hornist reports having his instrument dented, his car scratched, defacement of his photo, his mailbox booby-trapped, and having anonymous threatening calls made to his home. Flutist Scott Goff's car was also keyed. The rumor is some orchestra members feel a terrible frustration, the feeling that they are being held back by Schwarz, and felt ignored when their artistic advisory committee failed to influence the symphony board to not renew Schwarz's contract. Spokeswoman Mary Ann Champion says there have been no injuries and the police are not involved, but in a meeting last Friday with the orchestra members told the assembly that "this behavior is not tolerated."

In it's continuing effort to win a wider audience, the Washington National Opera will present the second free live simulcast of an opera on the Mall on November 12th. Madame Butterfly will be presented on a 18 by 22 foot video screen located near the capitol. No tickets will be required, and the $300,000 production costs will be met by donations from board members and supporters.

Pop musician Sting says today's rock is a bore and he much prefers 16th century English ballads. The 55-year-old singer, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, became famous as a member of the band "the Police" in the 70s and 80s, recently told a newspaper that heprefers singing songs of Elizabethan lutenist and composer John Dowland to the rock music of today. "Rock Music has come to a standstill—it's not going forward any more, it only bores me." Sting's Latest album, "Songs from the Labyrinth" features lute music of Dowland.

For more information on these and other items and events, go to the KBAQ website at KBAQ.org... be listening every week at this time for another update, and join me at noon every weekday for the Mozart Buffet, an hour of music by Mozart and his contemporaries. I'm Randy Kinkel, for KBAQ's "This week in Classical Music" on 89.5 KBAQ Phoenix, a service of Rio Salado College and Arizona State University.

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October 22nd, 2006 by Randy Kinkel courtesy of KBAQ.

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Title: October 22nd, 2006
Author: Randy Kinkel
Publisher: KBAQ 89.5 FM
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