GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => Topic started by: Greta on July 06, 2007, 03:15:46 PM

Title: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: Greta on July 06, 2007, 03:15:46 PM
Are Lorin Maazel and Daniel Barenboim, according to the latest figures released, from the 2004-2005 season. Saw this at RMCR.

This Chicago Tribune article (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-barenboim_pjul03,1,1264008.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true) lists all who topped $1 million for that season as:

Lorin Maazel, NY Phil, $2,638,940
Daniel Barenboim, CSO, $2,044,679
Michael Tilson Thomas, SFS, $1,636,218
James Levine, BSO, $1,592,000
Christoph Eschenbach, Philadelphia, $1,546,000
Esa-Pekka Salonen, LA Phil, $1,339,500
Franz Welser-Most, Cleveland, $1,232,515

Interesting. Gosh, $2.6 million is a lot of money. I wonder what the European top guys make, like Rattle in Berlin, Gergiev (LSO), and Jansons (RCO).

Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: hornteacher on July 06, 2007, 05:58:01 PM
Quote from: Greta on July 06, 2007, 03:15:46 PM
Interesting. Gosh, $2.6 million is a lot of money

Maybe he does baton commercials.......
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: Bonehelm on July 06, 2007, 06:29:14 PM
They deserve it.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: The new erato on July 06, 2007, 10:22:51 PM
Quote from: Bonehelm on July 06, 2007, 06:29:14 PM
They deserve it.
Thinking about what the composers whose music they play, usually earned, what orchestral musicians earn, and the problems of the business they are in, including dwindling and aging audiences, I find that debatable at best.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: M forever on July 07, 2007, 04:25:20 AM
Quote from: Greta on July 06, 2007, 03:15:46 PM
Interesting. Gosh, $2.6 million is a lot of money. I wonder what the European top guys make, like Rattle in Berlin, Gergiev (LSO), and Jansons (RCO).

Far less than that. I think Rattle makes around $1m with the BP, and Barenboim makes around roughly the same at the Staatsoper, or used to. Maybe he makes less now because I understand he is less involved with the opera now, only artistically, but not in an administrative function anymore. Levine also took home about that much from his job with the MP, and allegedly, Maazel even made just under $3m when he headed the SOBR. At least that's what I read somewhere. That's not really representative though. They just have too much money in general in Munich.

I think the 1m Rattle and Barenboim make in Berlin are pretty much the best paid positions in Europe. Generally, they make far less than MDs of American orchestras.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: 71 dB on July 07, 2007, 06:29:51 AM
Quote from: Bonehelm on July 06, 2007, 06:29:14 PM
They deserve it.

I don't think so. 1/10 maybe...
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: Greta on July 07, 2007, 07:26:17 AM
Which begs the question, are U.S. MDs overpaid? Can their orchestras really afford these huge salaries? Or maybe European MDs are underpaid.

Is it also to acknowledge that in America, MDs are expected to take on a larger role of fundraising and representing in the community, a whole lot of "extra" activities?
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: mahlertitan on July 07, 2007, 09:33:50 AM
it's pitiful really, consider the top stars of pop music makes at least 10 times more than they make combined.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: The new erato on July 07, 2007, 09:39:11 AM
Quote from: MahlerTitan on July 07, 2007, 09:33:50 AM
it's pitiful really, consider the top stars of pop music makes at least 10 times more than they make combined.
That people earn lot of money by flogging schmock (or heroine for that matter) has no relevance on this discussion. Thinking like that, Mother Thereaa should be richer than Bill Gates, which may well be the truth, but which again has no relevance.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: mahlertitan on July 07, 2007, 09:42:24 AM
Quote from: erato on July 07, 2007, 09:39:11 AM
That people earn lot of money by flogging schmock (or heroine for that matter) has no relevance on this discussion. Thinking like that, Mother Thereaa should be richer than Bill Gates, which may well be the truth, but which again has no relevance.

I can just as well argue that this Thread has absolute no relevance to "General Classical Music Discussion". Shouldn't it be moved?
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: The new erato on July 07, 2007, 09:44:24 AM
Quote from: MahlerTitan on July 07, 2007, 09:42:24 AM
I can just as well argue that this Thread has absolute no relevance to "General Classical Music Discussion". Shouldn't it be moved?
Probably yes.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: Don on July 07, 2007, 09:53:22 AM
Hundreds of athletes each make millions per annum.  Same goes for pop stars and CEO's.  So I don't begrudge those classical artists who are able to reap large sums of money.  I think this is a topic without substance.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: mahlertitan on July 07, 2007, 09:57:48 AM
Quote from: Don on July 07, 2007, 09:53:22 AM
Hundreds of athletes each make millions per annum.  Same goes for pop stars and CEO's.  So I don't begrudge those classical artists who are able to reap large sums of money.  I think this is a topic without substance.

it's all economics...
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: Don on July 07, 2007, 09:59:19 AM
Quote from: MahlerTitan on July 07, 2007, 09:57:48 AM
it's all economics...

Correct - it's just the market doing its thing, and the market often doesn't equate value with compensation.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: uffeviking on July 07, 2007, 10:25:15 AM
Reading the book by Norman Lebrecht The Maestro Myth will answer most of the questions asked here and no matter how much you dislike the author, he does seem to know what he is talking about.  ;)
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: MishaK on July 07, 2007, 01:10:05 PM
Quote from: Greta on July 06, 2007, 03:15:46 PM
Are Lorin Maazel and Daniel Barenboim, according to the latest figures released, from the 2004-2005 season. Saw this at RMCR.

This Chicago Tribune article (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-barenboim_pjul03,1,1264008.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true) lists all who topped $1 million for that season as:

Lorin Maazel, NY Phil, $2,638,940
Daniel Barenboim, CSO, $2,044,679
Michael Tilson Thomas, SFS, $1,636,218
James Levine, BSO, $1,592,000
Christoph Eschenbach, Philadelphia, $1,546,000
Esa-Pekka Salonen, LA Phil, $1,339,500
Franz Welser-Most, Cleveland, $1,232,515

Interesting. Gosh, $2.6 million is a lot of money. I wonder what the European top guys make, like Rattle in Berlin, Gergiev (LSO), and Jansons (RCO).

Note that in Barenboim's case this also includes appearances as soloist, of which there usually were many each season.
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: greg on July 07, 2007, 01:28:25 PM
Quote from: hornteacher on July 06, 2007, 05:58:01 PM
Maybe he does baton commercials.......
no, i think they all do shoe commercials......
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: paul on July 07, 2007, 04:44:36 PM
You forgot about James Levine's other job at the Metropolitan Opera. He's banking in $3.5m. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/07/25/levine_is_top_paid_conductor_in_us/
Title: Re: U.S. Conductors Banking Over 2 Million...
Post by: karlhenning on July 07, 2007, 04:51:36 PM
Quote from: Don on July 07, 2007, 09:59:19 AM
Correct - it's just the market doing its thing, and the market often doesn't equate value with compensation.

Word.