This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/18/carnegie-hall-ronald-perelman-departs
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Carnegie Hall power struggle sees Ronald Perelman depart from post | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Since its opening night in May 1891, featuring Tchaikovsky conducting his own Festival Coronation March, Carnegie Hall has always let its music do the talking. As one of the world’s most celebrated concert venues – host to the greatest performers of the classical, jazz and pop genres – it has largely managed to keep the cacophony of managerial disputes off-stage. | Since its opening night in May 1891, featuring Tchaikovsky conducting his own Festival Coronation March, Carnegie Hall has always let its music do the talking. As one of the world’s most celebrated concert venues – host to the greatest performers of the classical, jazz and pop genres – it has largely managed to keep the cacophony of managerial disputes off-stage. |
| Until this week, that is. In 48 short hours, Carnegie’s calm was shattered with the announced departure of its board chairman after just seven months in the post, after he raised allegations of conflicts of interest and inadequate financial scrutiny in the way the venue was run. | Until this week, that is. In 48 short hours, Carnegie’s calm was shattered with the announced departure of its board chairman after just seven months in the post, after he raised allegations of conflicts of interest and inadequate financial scrutiny in the way the venue was run. |
| At the source of the uncharacteristically discordant noises coming from the Carnegie’s West 57th Street premises in Manhattan are two very different characters. The first is the now departed chairman Ronald Perelman, a pugnacious billionaire businessman with a track-record of high-profile squabbles (he once sued the bank Morgan Stanley). | At the source of the uncharacteristically discordant noises coming from the Carnegie’s West 57th Street premises in Manhattan are two very different characters. The first is the now departed chairman Ronald Perelman, a pugnacious billionaire businessman with a track-record of high-profile squabbles (he once sued the bank Morgan Stanley). |
| When Perelman was appointed as chairman of Carnegie Hall in February the news was received with bemusement: the New York Times noted that he owns five drum kits and has played with Bon Jovi, an unlikely fit for a concert hall that premiered Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Mahler’s Symphony No 2. In one of Perelman’s first comments as chairman he said he wanted to see more pop performances from the main stage – a reasonable thought, perhaps, given that the Carnegie offered a home to the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, but contentious none the less. | When Perelman was appointed as chairman of Carnegie Hall in February the news was received with bemusement: the New York Times noted that he owns five drum kits and has played with Bon Jovi, an unlikely fit for a concert hall that premiered Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Mahler’s Symphony No 2. In one of Perelman’s first comments as chairman he said he wanted to see more pop performances from the main stage – a reasonable thought, perhaps, given that the Carnegie offered a home to the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, but contentious none the less. |
| Related: Response: The role of the conductor is crucial to the performance of an orchestra | Related: Response: The role of the conductor is crucial to the performance of an orchestra |
| The second figure at the heart of this week’s clash could not be more contrasting. Quietly spoken and mild-mannered, Clive Gillinson rose up the ranks of the British classical music world, starting as a cellist before running the London Symphony Orchestra for more than two decades. He then moved to New York in 2005 as Carnegie’s executive director, where he has been widely applauded for extending its education program and elevating its musical excellence. | The second figure at the heart of this week’s clash could not be more contrasting. Quietly spoken and mild-mannered, Clive Gillinson rose up the ranks of the British classical music world, starting as a cellist before running the London Symphony Orchestra for more than two decades. He then moved to New York in 2005 as Carnegie’s executive director, where he has been widely applauded for extending its education program and elevating its musical excellence. |
| On Wednesday, Perelman dropped a bombshell when he wrote to fellow trustees and essentially accused Gillinson of impropriety. He accused the executive director of lack of financial transparency and of conflict of interest in the way he handled a partnership with Warner Music over a $100,000 award for a promising young classical musician, and revealed that he had forced Gillinson to be suspended for one day in August. | On Wednesday, Perelman dropped a bombshell when he wrote to fellow trustees and essentially accused Gillinson of impropriety. He accused the executive director of lack of financial transparency and of conflict of interest in the way he handled a partnership with Warner Music over a $100,000 award for a promising young classical musician, and revealed that he had forced Gillinson to be suspended for one day in August. |
| “These matters implicate Carnegie Hall’s obligations as a non-profit organisation and public trust,” Perelman wrote. Yet the following day Perelman, apparently unsatisfied by the reaction of the board to his letter, announced that he would be standing down as chairman next month. | “These matters implicate Carnegie Hall’s obligations as a non-profit organisation and public trust,” Perelman wrote. Yet the following day Perelman, apparently unsatisfied by the reaction of the board to his letter, announced that he would be standing down as chairman next month. |
| Carnegie did not reply immediately reply to a Guardian request for comment. | Carnegie did not reply immediately reply to a Guardian request for comment. |
| So far all that Gillinson has said is that he is proud of his achievements and: “I love the hall and everything it stands for, and will continue to give it my all.” | So far all that Gillinson has said is that he is proud of his achievements and: “I love the hall and everything it stands for, and will continue to give it my all.” |
| At Thursday’s board meeting, it was agreed that a lawyer would be appointed to look into Perelman’s allegations. But the fact that it is the accuser who is departing and not the accused suggests that at least for now the sotto voce cellist has vanquished the fortissimo percussionist. | At Thursday’s board meeting, it was agreed that a lawyer would be appointed to look into Perelman’s allegations. But the fact that it is the accuser who is departing and not the accused suggests that at least for now the sotto voce cellist has vanquished the fortissimo percussionist. |