End-of-Season Chaos

The end of the normal performance season is always chaotic. About this time (mid May), I start getting pleasantly annoyed at all the services one must endure while freelancing. For me, living in Chicago, I can attribute most of this to the burden of traveling to the outer reaches of my universe, which seems to have grown smaller since I moved back into the city and become more dependent on commuting by bicycle.

When all is said and done I will have completed about 20 services between May 1st and June 1st; this might not be a lot for you jobbers out there, but for those of us with a "day job" (and in the middle of our third decade of life) it starts to get a bit tiring. Long, I will, for the days when I have a weekend free to partake in trivial tasks such as cleaning, socializing, or even relaxing. But not long after that time comes will I find myself wishing for the summer season to begin!

CSO Names Muti as Director

Just announced today is that Riccardo Muti has been appointed as the 10th music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Under a five-year contract, he begins in September 2010 and requires at least 10 subscription weeks per year.

The tag line for this could probably go as follows: ``Attempting to gain acceptance of the younger crowd, the CSO board [again] decides to go with the younger, more vibrant, choice instead of the more experienced candidate.''