My grandmother, Mary Howe confounded the National Symphony Orchestra at the request of the conductor, Hans Kindler. I’m sure they both would be horrified at what has occurred this year and would be so supportive and proud ofwhat the Orchestra is doing to to continue to provide we the people with the wonderful gift of music.
That was a wonderful article. Thank you so much. I have never seen the National Symphony Orchestra, but was born in D.C. and lived in the Metro area until I was 10. I did get to see Leonard Bernstein conduct in a program for children when I was about 8. I am 72 now and still remember how wonderful it was and he was. He received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1981. Here's to the return of decency.
Cofounded,sorry. I remember my grandmother as a fanatic musician who surrounded herself with a group,of equally fanatic musicians. Their life was music. They would I think really love the idea of the NSO in Exile
To think this could happen to the orchestra once headed by the incomparable Mstislav Rostropovich is hard to fathom.
But a reminder that in Europe, the Stuttgart Opera alone receives more financial support from the German government than every symphony orchestra and opera in the United States receives from our own government put together. A reflection of what we have "chosen" to value.
A little nugget that didn't make it into the piece: orchestras in the US receive just 4% of their funding from the govt (including federal, state, and local). In parts of Europe, it is closer to 80-90%.
Despite how the situation came about I think having the orchestra play all over the country is an excellent outcome. So many more people will have the opportunity to hear beautiful music. So many more will appreciate and sustain the National Symphony Orchestra. This would really give meaning to "National".
The nation's capital without an orchestra? a performing arts centre? a school of the performing arts? With those three internal venues, the Kennedy Center need not blush beside London - Paris - Hamburg - Berlin - gleaming on their rivers. (Or their Harbor - sorry, Sydney!) Glancing around a few centuries, I can't think of a head of state whose name wasn't synonymous with his or her theatre/opera house/concert hall/museum. A "symphony hall" is in effect a local temple of culture, where you sit in united silence, breathing with the performers, exploding into joyful applause at the end. (Or shouts of disapproval, but all genuine). Trump's manifestations of culture (wrestlers? rappers? gilt veneer? a "library" taller than the Empire State?) are emblematic of a vast nation whose once-thrilling symbol now stands dwarfed and unseen on its island? Trump, being uneducated, respects nothing because he understands nothing. Least of all democracy. (Has he shown Gianandrea Noseda around the White House with all its improvements? That's become a tour to test one's manners. But then who's Noseda? Some Italian he's never heard of, just stands in front of some big band beating time.
It’s a darn shame that Donny’s destructive actions have consequences beyond politics. Now his meddling might cause the demise of the NSO in our capital city. As its name implies, this orchestra is a national asset. Pared with Donny’s attempt to destroy the Kennedy Center, it will take many years to undo his damage to our cultural heritage.
Music has always been an essential part of my life and my sanity. I played the piano and loved the classical music that my teacher insisted that I learn. I remember the joy and wonder of being at my first professional symphony orchestra concert in an acoustically built music hall.
Is there anything that this admin and its GOP MOC enablers touched and NOT harmed? If you did not vote for Harris, are YOU prepared to pay to rebuild this nation - IF we even get the chance? I did not ever want to truly understand how Hitler could come to power while Germans did nothing to stop him. How could they ignore the concentration camps and the cruelty? Sadly, I know now. They are people who seek to blame others, who choose not to seek facts, and/or who can hate others just based on the color of the skin or the religion that they choose.
The crisis definitely matters. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It’s great to hear they are not giving up. Travel to other U.S. cities should bring the crowds. I’m hoping everyone is able to travel. This development pains me greatly but traveling around the country and performing will attract more patrons to the symphony until this issue is fully resolved.
When I was much younger, I was a volunteer for the symphony orchestra here in Colorado, so naturally this article speaks to me. For me at least, classical music is not just comforting but also healing (and I'm sure there are many others who would agree). Orchestras in public schools also need our strong support: there are numerous scientific studies that reveal the positive impact of learning to play classical music on young brains... literally mind-expanding effects.
Meredith, thank you for this very interesting article.
It is beyond disgusting what Felon47 is destroying in America. I am so pleased to hear the NSO is not giving up or giving in, but this should NEVER have become such a mess. That the issues are the result of actions taken by our demented draft-dodger-in-chief, a man (?) with a very fragile oversized ego, all the cultural expertise of a pile of barnyard compost and the decorating taste of a cheap bordello operator, is really hard to accept. NOBODY - not the patrons, not the musicians, not any American should be deprived of these public events because one ignorant twerp didn't get to put his name where it NEVER belonged.
The NSO led by Gianandrea Noseda, is now better than it’s ever been. Before the Trump takeover, it was attracting full enthusiastic audiences, folks of EVERY age, every performance, all leaving levitated. Fans like myself, sporting “I ❤️ NSO” buttons (also worn by the orchestra including Noseda) will now follow the NSO anywhere. We urge the entire area and visitors to DC to do so as well.
My grandmother, Mary Howe confounded the National Symphony Orchestra at the request of the conductor, Hans Kindler. I’m sure they both would be horrified at what has occurred this year and would be so supportive and proud ofwhat the Orchestra is doing to to continue to provide we the people with the wonderful gift of music.
That was a wonderful article. Thank you so much. I have never seen the National Symphony Orchestra, but was born in D.C. and lived in the Metro area until I was 10. I did get to see Leonard Bernstein conduct in a program for children when I was about 8. I am 72 now and still remember how wonderful it was and he was. He received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1981. Here's to the return of decency.
Cofounded,sorry. I remember my grandmother as a fanatic musician who surrounded herself with a group,of equally fanatic musicians. Their life was music. They would I think really love the idea of the NSO in Exile
You can edit your comments. See the 3 dots to the right of your name? Click on those, and 1 of the choices in the pop-up is "edit".
To think this could happen to the orchestra once headed by the incomparable Mstislav Rostropovich is hard to fathom.
But a reminder that in Europe, the Stuttgart Opera alone receives more financial support from the German government than every symphony orchestra and opera in the United States receives from our own government put together. A reflection of what we have "chosen" to value.
A little nugget that didn't make it into the piece: orchestras in the US receive just 4% of their funding from the govt (including federal, state, and local). In parts of Europe, it is closer to 80-90%.
Despite how the situation came about I think having the orchestra play all over the country is an excellent outcome. So many more people will have the opportunity to hear beautiful music. So many more will appreciate and sustain the National Symphony Orchestra. This would really give meaning to "National".
The nation's capital without an orchestra? a performing arts centre? a school of the performing arts? With those three internal venues, the Kennedy Center need not blush beside London - Paris - Hamburg - Berlin - gleaming on their rivers. (Or their Harbor - sorry, Sydney!) Glancing around a few centuries, I can't think of a head of state whose name wasn't synonymous with his or her theatre/opera house/concert hall/museum. A "symphony hall" is in effect a local temple of culture, where you sit in united silence, breathing with the performers, exploding into joyful applause at the end. (Or shouts of disapproval, but all genuine). Trump's manifestations of culture (wrestlers? rappers? gilt veneer? a "library" taller than the Empire State?) are emblematic of a vast nation whose once-thrilling symbol now stands dwarfed and unseen on its island? Trump, being uneducated, respects nothing because he understands nothing. Least of all democracy. (Has he shown Gianandrea Noseda around the White House with all its improvements? That's become a tour to test one's manners. But then who's Noseda? Some Italian he's never heard of, just stands in front of some big band beating time.
It’s a darn shame that Donny’s destructive actions have consequences beyond politics. Now his meddling might cause the demise of the NSO in our capital city. As its name implies, this orchestra is a national asset. Pared with Donny’s attempt to destroy the Kennedy Center, it will take many years to undo his damage to our cultural heritage.
Music has always been an essential part of my life and my sanity. I played the piano and loved the classical music that my teacher insisted that I learn. I remember the joy and wonder of being at my first professional symphony orchestra concert in an acoustically built music hall.
Is there anything that this admin and its GOP MOC enablers touched and NOT harmed? If you did not vote for Harris, are YOU prepared to pay to rebuild this nation - IF we even get the chance? I did not ever want to truly understand how Hitler could come to power while Germans did nothing to stop him. How could they ignore the concentration camps and the cruelty? Sadly, I know now. They are people who seek to blame others, who choose not to seek facts, and/or who can hate others just based on the color of the skin or the religion that they choose.
The crisis definitely matters. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It’s great to hear they are not giving up. Travel to other U.S. cities should bring the crowds. I’m hoping everyone is able to travel. This development pains me greatly but traveling around the country and performing will attract more patrons to the symphony until this issue is fully resolved.
When I was much younger, I was a volunteer for the symphony orchestra here in Colorado, so naturally this article speaks to me. For me at least, classical music is not just comforting but also healing (and I'm sure there are many others who would agree). Orchestras in public schools also need our strong support: there are numerous scientific studies that reveal the positive impact of learning to play classical music on young brains... literally mind-expanding effects.
Meredith, thank you for this very interesting article.
It is beyond disgusting what Felon47 is destroying in America. I am so pleased to hear the NSO is not giving up or giving in, but this should NEVER have become such a mess. That the issues are the result of actions taken by our demented draft-dodger-in-chief, a man (?) with a very fragile oversized ego, all the cultural expertise of a pile of barnyard compost and the decorating taste of a cheap bordello operator, is really hard to accept. NOBODY - not the patrons, not the musicians, not any American should be deprived of these public events because one ignorant twerp didn't get to put his name where it NEVER belonged.
The NSO led by Gianandrea Noseda, is now better than it’s ever been. Before the Trump takeover, it was attracting full enthusiastic audiences, folks of EVERY age, every performance, all leaving levitated. Fans like myself, sporting “I ❤️ NSO” buttons (also worn by the orchestra including Noseda) will now follow the NSO anywhere. We urge the entire area and visitors to DC to do so as well.
Thankyou