The Eugene Weekly has the report here:
After the most tumultuous year in its history, the Oregon Bach Festival returns — its internationally acclaimed artistic director fired, its reputation tarnished by his mysterious dismissal and its parent University of Oregon’s botched, secretive handling of the whole situation and its schedule diminished.
Yet the nearly half-century-old institution, one of Oregon’s artistic treasures, somehow endures despite the turmoil.
This year’s edition, which opens Friday, notably includes a pair of most-welcome contemporary works by major American composers. “Executive Director Janelle McCoy is responsible for bringing [Richard Danielpour’s] The Passion of Yeshua and Philip Glass’ Piano Concerto No.3 featuring Simone Dinnerstein to Eugene,” wrote festival director of Marketing and Communications Josh Gren in an email. “The rest of the Festival was programmed by an artistic advisory committee, led by UO School of Music and Dance Dean, Brad Foley” and including other UO faculty members and others. …
Last I recall UO was subsidizing the festival to the tune of $1M or so a year.
One thing in Brett Campbell’s article I’m in agreement with: that harm was done to the Oregon Bach Festival by the unconscionably petty decision to evict Matthew Halls from his position as artistic director.
Is the harm irreparable?
Hard to say.
Yet everywhere Matthew Halls conducts, he receives glowing reviews. Because of his nature, skill set, musicianship and the way he actually treats people, he can only go far in his career.
Would that the Oregon Bach Festival could have gone with him, as they intended.
I can only hope that this year’s conductor will be properly advised not to fraternize with their conductees, lest they scandalize some influential pearl-clutcher. Ye gads!