That classical thingy

[Insidious Von]

Maybe jerimander is right, there is an uptick in demand for classical music. It only took a matter of weeks for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra find a replacement for Peter Oudjian as Music Director. His name is Gustavo Gimeno, the orchestra's first Spanish Conductor.

The TSO has gone through some very tough times with several musicians strikes and the horrible sound of Roy Thomson Hall. Jukka Pekka Saraste quit in disgust when renovations weren't made during his tenure. Nobody wanted the job, it took them three years before Oudjian took the job. Renovations were eventually made but the sound is still only C+ in my book. Hopefully the TSO moves back to Massey Hall once renovations are completed, it wont be in time for the TSO's 100th birthday in 2022.

Goodbye Maestro Oudjian and good luck, you served us well. Welcome Maestro Gimeno.

 

[Insidious Von]

I donated to the Massey Hall restoration project. The venerable old hall, is part of my development to adulthood, it was time to give back.

Hopefully this gives me an inside track to the inaugural event. Unlike the mistake on Simcoe St, Massey Hall has a warm rich sound. When electric shows were performed there, they had to turn down the volume so as to not rattle the stucco work on the ceiling. They installed chicken wire to protect it. The new Massey Hall will have three stages, the main event stage with others being for rehearsals and intimate recitals. It will probably take business away from The Canadian Club and The St Lawrence Center, that's what happens with progress.

Neil Young will more than likely attend the opening, his career was shaped there. He played his first concert after vocal chord nodes surgery there. Not sure if his rehab coach Maestro Giuseppe Marcina will attend, he's 82 now.