This Week in Classical Music with Randy Kinkel 08/05/18

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Egarr retires from AAM;

Philly Adds Women to Schedule

 

It’s “This Week in Classical Music”; an update on what’s happening in the classical music world; I’m Randy Kinkel.

 

The Academy of Ancient Music says Music Director Richard Egarr will step down after the 2021/22 season, after 15 years in the post. 

Egarr's time at the helm of the period-instrument orchestra has been well documented on AAM’s own label, whose releases have included both Bach Passions and a disc of the composer’s orchestral suites. 

‘I have been extremely lucky to carry on Christopher Hogwood's ground-breaking work with these colleagues and friends during my time with the organisation,’ said Egarr. ‘I know that AAM will continue making important musical advances and developments in the field as it always has. I am so proud to have been part of its extraordinary history, and hope to continue to be some part of it after my official departure.’

 

The Philadelphia Orchestra is adding more female composers and artists to its season.

Partially in response to national criticism for assembling a 2018-19 season without a single work by a female composer, the orchestra Wednesday issued a revised season schedule including two works by female composers, and more female guest artists have shown up on the roster.

Critics piled on when the orchestra announced its 119th season in January with not a single work by a female composer. The lineup struck many as particularly tone-deaf when institutions are reassessing contributions from, and slights to, women in all sectors. It seemed uncharacteristic of an ensemble with a historic track record of opportunity for women, and the orchestra called it an “oversight.”

In November, the orchestra gives the U.S. premiere of “Perspectives” by Canadian composer Stacey Brown, and then in June, “Masquerade” by London-born Anna Clyne.

There’s also an appearance by the Estonian conductor Anu Tali, who will lead musicians from the orchestra in a work called Songs of Wars I Have Seen with text by Gertrude Stein.

The orchestra has a long history with female composers, conductors, and soloists. It maintains a long-standing relationship with the Philadelphia-based composer Jennifer Higdon and has performed the works of dozens of female composers. The ensemble itself is about one-third female.

“we acknowledge there is still a great imbalance. Including two composers …doesn’t address what is a much larger conversation. At the same time it’s certainly more productive than ignoring the conversation, so we wanted to address that through some revisions. “When it’s pointed out, we are right to be responsive.”

For more on these and other items and events, go to the website, K-B-A-C-H dot org; Be listening each week at this time for another update. Follow us on Facebook and twitter, and also listen every weekday at Noon for the Most Wanted Hour with Linda Cassidy, playing your top 100 classical hits.  I’m Randy Kinkel for KBACH’s “This Week in Classical Music”; Member supported 89.5 KBAQ Phoenix and HD, a service of Rio Salado College and Arizona State University.