Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect"
-
The referenced masterclass
At issue was his interaction with a set of young sisters, both born in New York and with a long set of accomplishments. They opened the master class with a performance from Spohr's "Duo Concertante." Symposium participants were given video of their performance in advance, so I actually watched that video before the master class. I noted that they "sounded like sisters singing together," their sound matched so beautifully as sisterly voices often do. They were playing by memory and had really mastered this complicated music and created a lot of great moments in their interactions, smiling at one another and truly playing as one. "I could listen all day," I wrote.
They played again live, at the beginning of the master class. "It's almost too perfect, I mean that as a compliment," Zukerman said. "Think less about how perfect to play and to play together, and more about phrasing. A little more vinegar - or soy sauce!" he laughed. "More singing, like an Italian overture."
They played some more, and he still wanted more expression.
"Too boxy - have fun!" he said. "The violin is a singing instrument, not a stringed instrument. There is nothing wrong with vibrato, there is nothing wrong with sliding. In fact I recommend it."
"Sometimes if you have a question about how to play it, sing it," he said. "I know in Korea they don't sing." He went on to talk about how wrong it is, that in Korea they don't sing.
One of the sisters spoke up, "But I'm not Korean," she said.
"Then where are you from?" he barked.
She began to explain that she's of half Japanese descent, then he interrupted, "In Japan they don't sing either." He mimicked a sing-song vocal style that has been stereotyped as Asian. "That is not singing. Violin is not a machine."
At this point the smiles had melted from the sisters' faces.
He went on to talk about telling a story with one's playing, but it was hard to listen after this. This was a virtual event, but if I'm honest, if it had been live I would have stood up and walked out of the hall. Instead I lay down on the couch next to my computer and put my hands over my face as the class continued.
At the end of their segment he bid them goodbye and added, "I hope I can see you one day in person so I can give you a big hug."
I did listen to the rest of the master class. At the end, as Zukerman answered questions from the participants, but he returned to the topic:
"In Korea they don't sing," Zukerman said, "It's not in their DNA."
-
@jolly said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
My god, they're scarred for life...
It’s boorish behavior that we often see in the land of careers where progressives thrive, like Holllywood. Capitalists knew better a long long time ago.
You should have a hearty laugh at the irony.
-
What an idiot.
-
@loki said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
@jolly said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
My god, they're scarred for life...
It’s boorish behavior that we often see in the land of careers where progressives thrive, like Holllywood. Capitalists knew better a long long time ago.
You should have a hearty laugh at the irony.
I agree, it's boorish behaviour.
But...Did he make them better?
Years ago in the dim mists of time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I had a football coach who had an asshole doctorate. Guy decided he just didn't care for me and I certainly didn't like him. As a result, I ran more than other guys, I re-did more drills, I practiced as cannon fodder against the older and bigger guys.
The old folks said you can make a dog mean by feeding them blood and gunpowder. I don't know about that, but you can single out a chubby 13 year-old and you can turn him into somebody that could play the game at a decent level in a year or two.
I still don't like that coach. I don't like him as a person. If I get a chance, I may stop by and piss on his grave. But I can't say he didn't make me better.
-
@jolly said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
@loki said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
@jolly said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
My god, they're scarred for life...
It’s boorish behavior that we often see in the land of careers where progressives thrive, like Holllywood. Capitalists knew better a long long time ago.
You should have a hearty laugh at the irony.
I agree, it's boorish behaviour.
But...Did he make them better?
Years ago in the dim mists of time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I had a football coach who had an asshole doctorate. Guy decided he just didn't care for me and I certainly didn't like him. As a result, I ran more than other guys, I re-did more drills, I practiced as cannon fodder against the older and bigger guys.
The old folks said you can make a dog mean by feeding them blood and gunpowder. I don't know about that, but you can single out a chubby 13 year-old and you can turn him into somebody that could play the game at a decent level in a year or two.
I still don't like that coach. I don't like him as a person. If I get a chance, I may stop by and piss on his grave. But I can't say he didn't make me better.
Oh we have our ways of torturing people. He could have told them to stop listening to Lawrence Welk for inspiration and a little more hip hop.
-
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill
-
@mik said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
These things should be addressed privately, not through public shaming.
-
Zuckerman made those "objectionable" remarks while his masterclass was being streamed online in real time. From the very start, there was never a window for the parties to handle this completely privately.
-
As for the after-the-fact public statement made by the Orchestra, they say only that they will not be working with Zuckerman and will announce a new program -- it's entirely necessary and appropriate to let the public know that you will be changing a headline performer and changing the program of a concert that is open to the public. It says nothing about Zuckerman having made any "objectionable" remarks.
-
-
@axtremus said in Orchestra cancels Zuckerman for "disrespect":
it's entirely necessary and appropriate to let the public know that you will be changing a headline performer and changing the program of a concert that is open to the public
The classy thing to do would have been to do so without explanation. Those involved will know the reasons and anyone with half a lick of sense, considering the live streaming. It profits no one anything to also turn it into a muckraking.
