Thursday 28 October 2010

Cage ahead of Justin Bieber for Christmas No 1!

In response to an enquiry by Classical Music, here is the Ladbrokes press release in full:

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Punters say bird is the word for Christmas Number One


SURFIN’ BIRD by the Trashmen is now just 3/1 with Ladbrokes to be the Christmas Number One single this year.

The single’s Facebook campaign boasts half a million members. Another Facebook-driven tilt at the top comes from John Cage whose 4’33” (The track of silence) has only 50 thousand followers, and is accordingly given odds of 14/1.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “The Surfin’ Bird Facebook campaign is gaining some serious momentum which we can’t ignore. If it is a success we will be shelling out thousands.”


Ladbrokes latest betting

2010 UK Christmas number one Single
Matt Cardle 7/4
The Trashmen 3/1
One Direction 7/2
Rebecca Ferguson 8/1
Aiden Grimshaw 13/1
Rage Against The Machine 13/1
Mary Byrne 13/1
Cher Lloyd 13/1
Jon Cage 14/1
Susan Boyle 15/1
Take That 15/1
Gamu Nhengu 15/1
Olly Murs 25/1
JLS 25/1
Justin Bieber 25/1
Treyc Cohen 25/1
Leona Lewis 25/1
Tinie Tempah 25/1
Wham 25/1
Wagner Fiuza-Carriho 25/1
Joe McElderry 33/1
Cliff Richard 33/1
Alexandra Burke 33/1
Jedward 33/1
Cee Lo Green 33/1
George Michael 33/1
Lady Gaga 33/1
Eva Cassidy 33/1
The Wanted 40/1
Mariah Carey 50/1
Eminem 50/1
Rihanna 50/1
Cheryl Cole 50/1
Britney Spears 50/1
Bruno Mars 50/1
The Saturdays 50/1
Michael Jackson 50/1
Katie Waissel 50/1
Belle Amie 66/1
Kate Perry 66/1
Enrique Iglesias 66/1
Kylie Minogue 66/1
Boyzone 66/1
Travis McCoy 66/1
The Beatles 66/1
Diana Vickers 66/1
Paije Richardson 75/1
Taio Cruz 75/1
John Adeley 100/1
Julio Iglesias 100/1
Professor Green 100/1
Plan B 100/1
Swedish House Mafia 100/1
Diva Fever 100/1
Michael Buble 125/1
Storm Lee 150/1
Robyn 150/1
Peter Andre 150/1
Katie Price 200/1

Thursday 14 October 2010

Clutching at Strauss

There are many reasons why an orchestral career might never get off the ground. But, among viola players anyway, the most likely destroyer of your dreams will be a guy called Don.

If you get accepted for an orchestral audition it is almost guaranteed that you'll be asked to prepare excerpts from Richard Strauss's bodice-ripper Don Juan. It's also almost guaranteed that you'll bollocks it up, and what's more, it's a pretty good bet that you'll go on bollocksing it up for the rest of your life.

The one comforting thought is that if you somehow manage to beat the odds on the day - nailing the rest of your audition pieces along the way, of course - and get the job, you'll never have to play it right again! At least, you'll never have to play it again all on your own under the intense scrutiny of an audience bent on judging you, looking for any reason to criticise.

Which makes Martin Stegner, a viola player with the Berlin Philharmonic, a Straussian hero in his own right.



Stegner plays the excerpt - one assumes voluntarily, but is there a slight look of 'I can't believe I'm having to go through this again' in his expression? - as part of an online tutorial to aid candidates applying for the latest YouTube Symphony Orchestra project. YTSO 2011 is a week of orchestral rehearsals, masterclasses and chamber music culminating in a concert at Sydney Opera House, and it follows from the inaugural YTSO at Carnegie Hall in 2009.

In order to participate, musicians must post videos of themselves performing set repertoire and orchestral excerpts (and yes, of course the viola list includes Don Juan). These are whittled down by a panel which will include conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and members of the LSO and Berlin Phil, before YouTube users get to vote for the final selection online. The prize: an all-expenses paid trip to Sydney to meet and play with fellow musicians from around the world.

You have until 28 November to submit your audition video, online public voting runs from 10 to 17 December, and the event itself runs from 13-20 March 2011 with the final concert streamed live. Tune in and you'll see the viola section, all people who, for once, will have managed not to succumb to that fateful Don.