Ludwig's Links: What News Would Beethoven Follow? Nov. 5, 2010

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Beethoven didn't have internet access (as far as we know). But if he had, he might have forwarded some of these articles to his friends — with commentary, of course.

iStock

Beethoven didn't have internet access (as far as we know). But if he had, he might have forwarded some of these articles to his friends — with commentary, of course.

iStock

The week in classical music:

• As Long As It Takes: Detroit Symphony contract talks are set to resume after a month of striking. Meanwhile, the musicians are hitting the picket lines again, and music director Leonard Slatkin remains silent on the strike.

• A Surplus — Really? The Oregon Symphony’s budget cuts have paid off – leaving them with extra spending money for the first time in several seasons.

• Bonuses Turned Down: Members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra were offered $2,000 bonuses, but rejected them in favor of longer-term raises.

• Shaking It Up In Seattle: The Seattle Symphony will welcome Simon Woods as its executive director next year, along with a new music director. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is upset that he’s leaving them.

• Anne Midgette on music: — A 60-year-old violinist sues Young Concert Artists for age discrimination.

• Classical Music's Amy Winehouse: A young violinist notorious for her drunken rampage in front of Prince Charles has gotten a record deal.

• Opera Made Accessible: Volunteers at Sydney Opera House explain performances to the blind.

• Just Because: Opera bass Rene Pape has withdrawn from his debut in La Scala’s next installment of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, saying he just needs to take a break from rehearsing and performing.

• New Opera Packs a Punch: An experimental opera by Juliet Parmer focuses on women’s boxing.

• Popcorn with your Mozart: Stephen Evans, the producer who inspired a fashion for Shakespeare in recent British cinema, is adapting a Mozart opera for mainstream film audiences.

• Porgy and Bess in the 21st Century: The iconic American opera gets a Broadway-style update.

• An Emotional Chord: The Israel Chamber Orchestra sets off for Bayreuth, challenging the country’s unofficial ban on Wagner’s music.

• In Pursuit of the Repugnant? Frank J. Oteri at New Music Box wonders if "ugly" is even harder to define than "beautiful".

• A Fatal Fall: A bassist with the Vienna Philharmonic died hiking while on tour with the orchestra in Japan.

• Kremerata Baltica, Knights: The LA Times looks at two small orchestras expanding the boundaries of classical music in very different ways.