This Week in Classical Music Sunday July 27

by: Randy Kinkel

July 27, 2008

James Levine

( Phoenix, Az )
•Levine fine after surgery
•Columbus Symphony season delay; talks on hold
•Group protests "Springer: The Opera"

This week in classical music 7-27-08

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

Conductor James Levine was released from the hospital last week after undergoing surgery to remove a growth on his kidney, Doctors said they found the tumor to be malignant, but very small and confined to the central part of Levine's kidney, which was removed. Due to early detection, the growth had not spread to surrounding tuissues or lymph nodes, and that no other surgery is necessary. Levine is said to be in good spirits, relieved, and looking forward to his upcoming season conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera.

For the first time in 50 years, The Columus Symphony will not open its classics season this fall. Symphony Management said with contract talks stalling that they are delaying the start of the season in October and at least 10 performances through the first week of Decemberr have been cancelled. Board of Trustees President Robert trafford said Board of trustees President Robert "Buzz" Trafford said the lack of a new labor agreement with musicians forced the move. After month-long mediated talks and phone discussions, the two groups failed to reach an agreement, and no further talks are planned so far. "We have gone absolutely as far as we can go," he said. "Unless musicians change their position, we won't reach an agreement." Mary Greenlee, a founding member of the pro-musicians group Symphony Strong, said she's not surprised by the decision. "It gives clarity about the intent of the board," she said. "How can you continue to negotiate if you've already decided what the outcome will be?" In June, the symphony's board of trustees suspended operations, including the popular outdoor summer pops concerts, and terminated its labor contract with musicians.

A catholic group from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania protested outside the Studio Theater in Washington, D.C. last week to protest the opening of "Jerry Springer: The Opera". Protesters gathered outside the theater to chant "Hail Mary" through Bullhorns, playing bagpipes, and had a staue of the Virgin Mary with them, which they protected from the rain with umbrellas. It's not t the firsat time the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property has protested the production; they've also been there for openings in NYC and Cincinnatti, they call the opera "Blasphemous" due to it's scenes depicting a springer show with God, Jesus, Mary and the Devil. Director Keith Alan Baker says the production is "Parody, with tongue firmly in cheek."
God could not be reached for comment.

For more on these and other items and events, go to the website kbaq.org, be listening every week at this time for another update, and join me at noon each weekday 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.