Monday (1/14) on the Louisville.com news site, Adam Price writes, “The story of the Louisville Orchestra, and the role it played in distinguishing Louisville as a cultural center, is well known. After the Great Flood of 1937, highly sought after conductor Robert Whitney arrived in Louisville to build the orchestra. … He joined with then-Mayor Charles Farnsley to achieve their shared vision of making Louisville one of the best known orchestras in the world. They did so by focusing on premiering new music, at one point nearly 50 pieces a year, which resulted in their recordings being heard around the world. It worked. Owsley Brown III and Jerome Hiler depicted this transformation in ‘Music Makes A City’, a documentary about the period and Charles Farnsley. Farnsley, who also created the Fund For The Arts, deeply valued the contributions a thriving arts scene could make to the growth of the city. After a limited screening and DVD release, PBS is planning to air ‘Music Makes A City’ nationally. They may be airing it because the subject matter is relevant once again. As the Louisville Orchestra nears the completion of its first season since emerging from bankruptcy, they are among several orchestras that are either going through bankruptcy or near it.”
Posted January 16, 2013
