EMI, which has been on the auction block since February, when Citigroup took control after a near-default by owner Terra Firma, has been sold. Vivendi, which owns Universal Music Group, has acquired EMI's recorded division for about $1.9 billion, and Sony Corporation has purchased EMI's publishing division for $2.2 billion.
The Kentucky Opera will perform The Marriage of Figaro to keyboards. The Opera has in the past used the Louisville Orchestra as its pit orchestra, but the orchestra is currently in a contract negotiations impasse with its musicians. The Opera reached an agreement with the musicians directly to perform for Carmen in September, but the Opera states that the cost was too high, so they began soliciting students and community groups to perform for their next production. That plan failed under pressure from the American Federation of Musicians, and the Opera will now be performing the production accompanied by two pianos and a harpsichord.
The Cleveland Orchestra has received $5 million from Alexander and Sarah Cutler. The gift will be applied to the Orchestra's endowment, and will be used to support the Center for Future Audiences and to fund an annual student appreciation weekend. Executive Director Gary Hanson hopes the gift will help the Orchestra increase the number of students attending performances from 8 percent of its audience to 15 percent.
The Oregon Symphony has finished a second year in a row with a surplus. Ticket sales for the previous season were up six percent, and ticket revenue was up by five percent.
The Boston Lyric Opera has raised a record $5 million in one year. $1.5 million of the funds will go towards a four-year Envision Opera Challenge campaign. The campaign, with $1 million in matching funds from an anonymous donor, will fund and expanded artistic vision for the Opera.