Toronto Symphony cancels pianist for tweeting her views about Ukraine

Sat, 2016-04-02 16:59

Unionist

Wow - great news, thanks for this ikosmos! Good riddance to bad rubbish.

But we must be very careful, following your lead, to ensure that we give no credence to the allegations against this scumbag, as they haven't yet been tested in the courts:

Quote:
The filing describes Mr. Melanson as a leader who sparked sexual harassment complaints, put female partners on the payroll, drank on the job, fired people unjustly and sought an escape route from the Banff Centre, leaving it in the lurch with his abrupt resignation. “The real reasons for Jeff’s departure from [Banff] were his harassment of female employees and his inability to deliver on his grandiose plans,” the document alleges.

He is innocent - innocent, I say - totally innocent - until the courts decide otherwise.

Sat, 2016-04-02 17:04

#353

voice of the damned

Quote:
he may also have been reflecting the political line of another influential and meddlesome patron, the Harper Government

Going by Occam, you'd still need to explain how the Calgary Symphony, where Lisitsa performed several months after her Toronto show was cancelled, managed to fortify itself against meddling from Harper.

I mean, Harper had less influence in Calgary than he does in downtown Toronto?

Sat, 2016-04-02 17:19

#354

Unionist

voice of the damned wrote:
Quote:
he may also have been reflecting the political line of another influential and meddlesome patron, the Harper Government

Going by Occam, you'd still need to explain how the Calgary Symphony, where Lisitsa performed several months after her Toronto show was cancelled, managed to fortify itself against meddling from Harper.

I mean, Harper had less influence in Calgary than he does in downtown Toronto?

The McCarthyite banning of Lisitsa by the TSO had nothing to do with Harper. Can't blame Harper for everything. That act lies at the feet of the scumbag Melanson, mercifully dumped now by the TSO, who said he was acting on complaints by some unnamed "Ukrainian media outlets". I'm not saying Melanson is a liar. It's quite possible there were some anti-democratic "Ukrainian media outlets" who share his McCarthyite approach to the arts. I'm only saying he's a scumbag.

And your point is well taken. In Calgary, where the scumbag obviously had no influence, the arts were allowed to flourish in full freedom.

Sat, 2016-04-02 19:13

#355

Mr. Magoo

So he resigned, citing personal legal issues with his ex.

Finally, justice for Valentina!!

Sat, 2016-04-02 19:21

#356

Unionist

Mr. Magoo wrote:

So he resigned,

Ummm, not exactly, please read for comprehension:

Quote:
The Board of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Jeff Melanson, President & CEO of the TSO, have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties that he resign from his employment with the TSO.

That's corporatese for: "Come in to my office, please - go quietly, or we'll fucking fire your ass and retain your severance."

Quote:
... citing personal legal issues with his ex.

No, he cited nothing. Read the TSO release for comprehension. And "personal legal issues" hardly begins to capture the allegations about what he did (or did not do) to females that were not his "ex".

Quote:
Finally, justice for Valentina!!

Not entirely. The fascist banning of Lisitsa was executed by the scumbag, but it was done on behalf of the TSO. Until the TSO apologizes publicly and invites her back, justice will be only partial.

Sat, 2016-04-02 20:04

#357

Mr. Magoo

Quote:
That's corporatese for: "Come in to my office, please - go quietly, or we'll fucking fire your ass and retain your severance."

OK. So he was fired??

Or did he resign, like I said?

Quote:
And "personal legal issues" hardly begins to capture the allegations about what he did (or did not do) to females that were not his "ex".

OK. Were these accusations brought forward by these females?

Or by his ex?

Quote:
Until the TSO apologizes publicly and invites her back, justice will be only partial.

And until then it barely even qualifies as "partial".

Sorry if I'm recorking anyone's champagne here.

Sun, 2016-04-03 12:01

#358

Rev Pesky

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Quote:
That's corporatese for: "Come in to my office, please - go quietly, or we'll fucking fire your ass and retain your severance."

OK. So he was fired??

Or did he resign, like I said?

As you well know, resignations are often asked for. Does that type of resignation constitute 'firing'. Yes, it does.

There is still the question of whether the resignation was 'asked for'. Given the circumstances, and given it was 'mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties that he resign from his employment' I would say the idea for the resignation came from the board, not Mr. Melanson.

Sun, 2016-04-03 16:09

#359

Mr. Magoo

Very well then. But the gestalt of my point was that none of this had anything to do with Lisitsa or with Melanson's cancellation of her concert. He may as well have broken his leg snowboarding, or lost everything in a house fire.

Sun, 2016-04-03 17:40

#360

Unionist

Mr. Magoo wrote:

OK. So he was fired??

Or did he resign, like I said?

When a person quits, they just quit.

When a press release says, "it was mutually agreed that this asshole would be better off somewhere else, anywhere else" - it is universally corporatese for, "we let him go".

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Very well then. But the gestalt of my point was that none of this had anything to do with Lisitsa or with Melanson's cancellation of her concert. He may as well have broken his leg snowboarding, or lost everything in a house fire.

You're absolutely correct. Melanson was an anti-democratic asshole entirely apart from his (alleged) abuse of women and shady business practices.

The importance of this story is only to show, yet again, that divine retribution inevitably is visited upon assholes. And the word Schadenfreude was invented for a very good reason.

Sun, 2016-04-03 18:09

#361

Mr. Magoo

Quote:
divine retribution inevitably is visited upon assholes

"This retribution may be divine, but it is not inevitable" -- Henry Kissinger

Anyway, I won't belabour this any more. Jeff Melanson has a case of the sads, and that's what matters.

Mon, 2016-04-04 20:00

#362

swallow

I had no idea you were so theological, Unionist!

Mon, 2016-04-04 21:35

#363

Unionist

swallow wrote:

I had no idea you were so theological, Unionist!

Well, even an atheist like me has to admit that God has her moments. I particularly appreciate Deuteronomy 32:35 and Romans 12:19.

Tue, 2016-04-05 09:22

#364

swallow

See, now you're making us chase down scriptural references. About smiting. Are you trying to revive the cult of Zeus?

Tue, 2016-04-05 12:13

#365

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Hate to break it to you, U, but symphonies are the antithesis of democratic.

Tue, 2016-04-05 12:27

#366

Slumberjack

Seems like you've been listening to too much Wagner.

Tue, 2016-04-05 12:38

#367

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Actually, most recently Chopin and Mendelsohn. Thing 1 is a classical cellist, taking music degree in performance (her symphony played last night). I have learned a lot about symphonies and classical music scene in recent years.

Tue, 2016-04-05 16:55

#368

Unionist

Timebandit wrote:

Hate to break it to you, U, but symphonies are the antithesis of democratic.

LOL after some time-consuming effort, I still had no clue how to parse your sentence... until I realized you meant "orchestras".

Tue, 2016-04-05 22:04

#369

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Fine, symphony orchestra. Fly- by posting, it happens. Don't be a pedant.

Tue, 2016-04-05 23:20

#370

Unionist

Timebandit wrote:
Fine, symphony orchestra. Fly- by posting, it happens. Don't be a pedant.

Are you suggesting I'm a pedantphile??

Wed, 2016-04-06 12:44

#371

Rev Pesky

Timebandit wrote:
Fine, symphony orchestra. Fly- by posting, it happens. Don't be a pedant.

I apologize in advance, but I have to support the pedantry on this one. Composers create symphonies, orchestras play them. Sometimes when orchestras play symphonies, they are referred to as 'symphony orchestras'.

And yes, orchestras are profoundly non-democratic. That's how beautiful music gets made.

Wed, 2016-04-06 14:11

#372

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Well, having my head in an assembly script most of the time, I frankly do not have all neutrons firing in synch right now and skipped a word. Truth be told, it's one of the more minor oversights I've committed in the last two weeks. So bite me.

Wed, 2016-04-06 16:17

#373

Slumberjack

Timebandit wrote:
I frankly do not have all neutrons firing in synch right now and skipped a word.

Shouldn't this be neurons?

Thu, 2016-04-07 04:50

#374

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Yes, although I'm feeling drained to the subatomic level about now. Goddam autocorrect.

ETA: I'd like to draw attention to the thread title, which also contains the error of leaving out the word "orchestra".

Thu, 2016-04-07 11:21

#375

kropotkin1951

Flaming spells are lame.

Thu, 2016-04-07 11:35

#376

Slumberjack

Using the word lame in that manner is ableist. Also, the neutrons vs. neurons exchange was not about spelling because they were not misspelt. The exchange had to do with the use of the two words, and whether in the given context one word should have been used instead of the other, but only noted as a continuance of the pedantry already discussed in this thread, and extended in the interests of humouring the situation. But thanks for dropping by to shit on our banter.

Thu, 2016-04-07 11:45

#377

Slumberjack

Timebandit wrote:
ETA: I'd like to draw attention to the thread title, which also contains the error of leaving out the word "orchestra".

Yes, it would have to be a pretty bad attempt at a symphony to cause other performances to be cancelled.

Thu, 2016-04-07 11:48

#378

kropotkin1951

Slumberjack wrote:

But thanks for dropping by to shit on our banter.

I think you are right that lame is not an acceptable term to be using in the context I used it in although when I think of the word I think of horses first not humans and never use the term in a sentence to refer to a human. Since you obviously think of humans and not animals when reading the term I will defer to your world view that humans are the only species worth considering.

I guess your posts are banter and my are shit. I'll keep that in mind oh master of the babble universe.

Thu, 2016-04-07 12:11

#379

Slumberjack

You didnt intend that spelling remark as banter, but in a shitty sort of way, likely stemming from our less than amicable exchanges in the thread about the criminal justice system. Amirite?

Thu, 2016-04-07 12:16

#380

kropotkin1951

Nope I didn't even notice it was you that was posting but its okay if you think everything is about you and your posts. I understand that since I know lots of people who are that self centered.

Thu, 2016-04-07 12:20

#381

Slumberjack

It's just that I don't recall you ever trying to correct people's spelling until now.

Thu, 2016-04-07 12:32

#382

swallow

Did we agree to spell it "pendant"?

Thu, 2016-04-07 14:27

#383

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

We could, but I hate being left dangling.

Thu, 2016-04-07 14:43

#384

Slumberjack

How about petulant?

Thu, 2016-04-07 16:27

#385

kropotkin1951

Slumberjack wrote:

It's just that I don't recall you ever trying to correct people's spelling until now.

I don't as a rule and that's why I made the pithy statement you objected to. That statement was a response to Timebandit pointing out that the thread title was wrong as well and then when I looked it was Unionist who both opened the thread with the defective title and then commented on Timebandit following it.

I found that both funny and pathetic at the same time and thus made what I thought was a pithy statement. I apparently struck a nerve and you wanted pity for your emotional pain.

Thu, 2016-04-07 16:38

#386

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

I think everybody's joking here - let's all lighten up and play nice. I'm not offended by any correction, it's all in good fun.

Thu, 2016-04-07 17:56

#387

Rev Pesky

Timebandit wrote:
Well, having my head in an assembly script most of the time, I frankly do not have all neutrons firing in synch right now and skipped a word. Truth be told, it's one of the more minor oversights I've committed in the last two weeks. So bite me.

I apologized in my previous post, and I'll apologize again. I do understand, especially as I get older, that minor errors can be made, so please don't think me the worse for my short journey into pedantry.

I would also like to make it known that I agree completely with your statement re: orchestras being the antithesis of democracy. In music, if not in other spheres, someone has to be in control. The maestro sees the orchestra as a single musical instrument, and it is her/his job to see that all the parts are functioning at their best.

Some years ago I read a book full of stories and interviews with various maestri, and an image in the book really stuck with me. It was George Solti rehearshing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In the picture, in his one hand the baton was moving so fast it was just a blur. At the same time, with his other hand, he was pointing at someone in the orchestra. He was looking down his nose, his arm, his hand, and finally his finger directly at the musician, and that part of his anatomy was rock solid immobile. When I saw that I thought, 'I'm glad I'm not at the other end of that look', even though it was probably just a cue.

Thu, 2016-04-07 17:59

#388

Mr. Magoo

Quote:
We could, but I hate being left dangling.

You have nothing to lose but your chain.

Thu, 2016-04-07 18:03

#389

Mr. Magoo

Quote:
In music, if not in other spheres, someone has to be in control. The maestro sees the orchestra as a single musical instrument, and it is her/his job to see that all the parts are functioning at their best.

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/xbwpoo.jpg[/IMG]

In just three short years he's gone from working outside an electronics store to this.

Fri, 2016-04-08 00:00

#390

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Quote:
We could, but I hate being left dangling.

You have nothing to lose but your chain.

I've recently come to the conclusion that gravity is not my friend...

Fri, 2016-04-08 09:57

#391

Rev Pesky

Timebandit wrote:
...I've recently come to the conclusion that gravity is not my friend...

Do you mean gravity as in 'seriousness', or gravity as in 'what's this strange force pushing me towards the center of the earth'? Or perhaps both?

Then there's this 'grave' situation:

They're moving Grandpa's grave to build a sewer

They're shifting it regardless of expense.

They're moving his remains, to lay down nine-inch drains,

To satisfy some posh bloke's residence.

Now what's the use of having a religion?

For when you die your troubles never cease

When some high society crank, needs a pipeliine for his tank,

They won't let poor old grandpa rest in peace...

Fri, 2016-04-08 22:12

#392

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Oh, both in varying degrees! ;)

The whole "rest in peace" thing strikes me as very odd. Grandpa's not resting, he's dead and as to peace, being dead, he's not aware one way or the other. He has no troubles or cares, he's dead. Carbon. Dust. The only ones worked up are among the living, and if they'd waited a generation or two longer, there probably wouldn't be much angst over the removal to speak of.

One more good reason to cremate and scatter.

Wed, 2016-05-18 02:24

#393

NDPP

Feature Interview with Pianist Valentina Lisitsa in Donetsk

https://newcoldwar.org/feature-interview-pianist-valentina-lisitsa-donet...

"We are called 'Kremlin trolls' and blamed for all deadly sins..."

And by 'progressives' too.

Wed, 2016-05-18 12:51

#394

swallow

So, she has in the end managed to perform in Toronto. Interesting story.

Wed, 2016-05-18 19:35

#395

Unionist

swallow wrote:

So, she has in the end managed to perform in Toronto. Interesting story.

Yes. And the author of the story (Arthur Kapitainis) is no longer writing for the National Post. Also an interesting story in itself.

The good news is still that Lisitsa plays on and stands strong, while that McCarthyite pandering asshole Jeff Melanson is gone. Lyrical justice.

Thu, 2016-06-09 17:27

#396

ikosmos

Valentina Lisitsa interviewed in Donetsk - Read the full interview, translated into English, at www.slavyangrad.org.

PV wrote:
Not long after her triumphant April 10th concert at Toronto's Koerner Hall, Ukrainian-American pianist Valentina Lisitsa was interviewed for the Donetsk-based Russian-language daily Komsomolskaya Pravda. The outspoken critic of the post-Maidan regime in Kiev has taken a lot of flak in some quarters, but in the predominantly Russian-speaking lands of Eastern Ukraine, where people are fighting for their language and culture, her courageous defense of their rights is much appreciated. Since the Kiev regime's attacks on the Donbass began in 2014, she has given several sold-out concerts there. Asked about what motivates her solidarity, she replied:

"When I played here in Donetsk for the first time, I realized that the music is not just for pleasure, not some nice, elitist thing for people who have everything. No, people need music like oxygen. In Donetsk, I play Prokofiev, he was born here. Here are our roots, our civilization to which the people, who are listening to me here, belong. I feel how the people need music; I do not think about the danger here or how the West will look at me."

Asked about death threats, she replied: "I’m not afraid of threats, even though I have been threatened many times. It’s not worth the tears of a child."

from Musical Notes by Wally Brooker in People's Voice

Toronto Symphony cancels pianist for tweeting her views about Ukraine

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