This Week in Classical Music-July 5, 2009

by: Randy Kinkel

July 05, 2009

David Robertson

This Week in Classical Music-July 5, 2009

( Phoenix, AZ )
•SLSO reports revenue, audience increase
•Research: music cause physiological changes

This week in classical music 7/5/09

It’s this week in classical music, an update on what’s happening in the classical music world; I’m Randy Kinkel.

In today’s economic climate, when most Symphony Orchestras are belt-tightening and cutting costs and personnel, at least one large orchestra is thriving—The St. Louis Symphony orchestra under its new Director David Robertson is reporting an increase in revenue and an increase in audience this season over last. This season it reported a 15 percent increase in revenue: $5.57 million, up from $4.84 million. In addition, total attendance rose to 178,837 from 165,865, an increase of 7.8 percent. Between January and May, the orchestra played to seven near-capacity or sold-out houses. The symphony attracted larger audiences with more popular offerings, like "The Lord of the Rings Symphony", Oz with Orchestra and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. These SLSO Presents concerts attracted 20,000 visitors, more than half of whom were visiting Powell Hall for the first time
The Metropolitan Opera had struck a deal with union stagehands that will freeze salaries until next year. Met GM Peter Gelb had called for a 10% decrease in salaries from the union to help manage costs during tough economic conditions, but the union, Local one, argued for a salary freeze rather than a decrease. Under the new deal, the planned 2.5% raise is pushed back a year and the %5 benefit increase take effect January 1st.

Researchers found that songs that alternate between fast and slow sections — like opera — induced dynamic and somewhat predictable change in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the volunteers in recent study. The study included two dozen volunteers (12 choristers and 12 with no music training) and monitored the subjects as they listened to different musical selections — or a period of silence — in a random order. The research team, led by Dr. Luciano Bernardi of Italy's Pavia University, found that swelling crescendos increased the participants' blood pressure and their heart and respiration rates. It also narrowed the blood vessels under the skin; The opposite occurred during the slower passages and silent pauses. "These findings increase our understanding of how music could be used in rehabilitative medicine," Bernardi said in a statement. The study was published in the Monday online edition of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

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

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