Cleveland Tapes

[Tubaryan12]

Pardon a perhaps naive question, but why is the current player leaving/being asked to leave?

The original posting was back in 2005. bloke's addition was about a music critic that was being replaced at the local newspaper.

[Roger Lewis]

I agree with Snorlax. Don and I go back to our high school days and also played together at Mannes - what a monster horn player he was! I haven't seen him in years and have only talked to him on a couple of occasions since then, but I feel he has been stabbed in the back by his newspaper.

This stinks of censorship and the newspaper should be taken to task for its behavior. Don has always called them as he see's them and he has a great ear and very strong observational skills. He is also extremely familiar with recordings of other ensembles and the scores. He would not do this for spite, but to help the orchestra grow. Apparently, they're too good to get better.

Hang tough Don - I'm in your corner on this.

Roger

[eupher61]

I also seem to recall hearing that (and someone please correct it if this word-of-mouth info is incorrect) for many years the non-valved low brass players were very strongly encouraged to play a local make of instruments.

Strongly encouraged? Well, they got the non-valved instruments gratis, so I'd sure as heck play 'em too. They all had additional instruments as well, not necessarily of that particular make, but...well, I specifically know of one who had a VERY similar model from an Asian manufacturer. If there was a requirement, it was from the manufacturer, not the orchestra.

Nothing wrong with those instruments, after all.

[MileMarkerZero]

While I certainly understand the sentiments towards Mr. Rosenberg, I think there might be more at play than simply orchestral politics here. To be blunt, he is damned lucky he still has a job. As noted in the article, it isn't a fun time to be in the newpaper biz. In the last several months, the list of newspapers that have either completely gone under or have trimmed SIGNIFICANT numbers of staff from their newsrooms is long and distinguished. The LA Times recently laid off 150 people from their news division. That's roughly 1/2 of their editorial staff. The New York Sun is now defunct. My hometown newspaper just laid off 13 people in the newsroom. That's significant for a 169K circ paper. In just 5 years, Scripps newspapers went from $240 million in revenue to less than $70 million. That's for all of their properties across the country. Print journalists are becoming an endangered species.

I know that in the case of the local paper here, the cuts coincided with a re-vamping of the newpaper; combining of sections, elimination of some features, etc. The local movie critic was let go after 30 years. Why pay a movie critic when people are going to Roper's web site?

There is every possibility that his reassignment might actually save his job in the long run.

If Mr. Rosenberg is still gainfully employed by the paper, he is fortunate. There are literally thousands of reporters, designers, copy editors, and critics across the country that would envy having his problem.

[Alex C]

I'm confused (as usual). Is there an audition for music critic being held?

It is my understanding that the Cleveland horns were required to play Conn 8D's or even King Eroica's at one time or another. I had not heard about the trombones. Can you imagine that Ed Anderson ever played a King Duo Gravis in the orchestra during the Szell era? Not me.

[jacojdm]

Rosenberg is now suing the Pee Dee.

[MileMarkerZero]

I can certainly believe that a critic can get in the habit of (regardless of the actual quality of the product) giving bad reviews to an ensemble.

Locally, two professional orchestras perform. They are both good. When one goes out on a limb, it is imaginative and innovative. When the other does, it is a faux pas, a stumble, or buffoonery. The first one always (yes, always) receives completely glowing reports on execution whereas the other one nearly always gets picked apart.

One serves Dunkin' Donuts, one serves Krispy Kreme...

[jacojdm]

Latest on Rosenberg's suit against his employer....
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07 ... wspap.html" target="_blank