Calgary Herald from Calgary, Alberta, Canada • 68

Arts Sitif E2 CALGARY HERALD Friday, April 12, 2002 Dutoit's sudden departure a shocker' Industry wants piece of Craig's new pie JOEPARASKEVAS Calgary Herald 'V fcw, (with 1 iij 1 Jinn 1 li.iijjiijn,, i. ,1111 li, 1 i il Canadian Press by the head of the musicians' guild Conductor style quite demanding BRIAN DALY The Canadian Press MONTREAL Branded both a tyrant and a virtuoso, Montreal Symphony Orchestra music director Charles Dutoit elicited shock and surprise in music circles Thursday following his abrupt resignation. Dutoit, who quit Wednesday following a dispute with musicians, has been acclaimed as one of the world's finest conductors during his 25-year run at the helm of the orchestra. But some critics contend he's a bully whose verbally abusive motivational style has driven some performers to quit while prompting others to take sick leave. "In the past year or so it's become intolerable," Emile Subirana, president of the Quebec Musicians' Guild, said in an interview Thursday.

"The musicians are constantly berated or they're insulted or there are sarcastic comments." A recent attempt by Dutoit to dismiss two members of the orchestra resulted in a collective revolt by the musicians against what many players described as the music director's abusive behaviour on the podium. MSO executives attempted to bring the sides together to resolve the dispute. But in a statement issued Wednesday, the Swiss-born Dutoit said he was quitting immediately, following what he called "hostile declarations" by the guild. The union had previously issued its own open letter, slamming Dutoit's "offensive behaviour and complete lack of respect for the musicians." The conductor was travelling in the United States this week and was not available for further comment. Dutoit cited "hostile declarations" in his resignation letter.

But if the conductor's abrasive style rubbed some musicians the wrong way, audiences loved the finished product. The MSO won a Juno Award and two Grammys under Dutoit's tutelage while producing more than 75 recordings under the DeccaLon-don label, garnering some 40 national and international awards. Dutoit, who had been music director of the MSO since 1977, also serves as director of the Orchestre national de France and music director of the Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. "In the past 25 years, Dutoit has taken the Montreal Symphony from being a very good orchestra to a truly outstanding and international orchestra," said Jack Mills, president of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO). "This is a shocker, a very unfortunate set of circumstances." tion has been filed." Before any applications for changes to bylaws or land use are made, parties are strongly encouraged by municipality officials to hold public information sessions, says Schwartzenberger.

In addition, at least one public hearing regarding land use would also be required. "It really depends how large a facility is involved and exactly where it Television and film industry officials have urged Canada's broadcast regulator to impose strict production and spending guidelines before it renews four licences to A-Channel owner Craig Broadcast Systems Inc. But officials for the Calgary-based broadcaster balked at the suggestions, made Thursday at a hearing in Calgary of the Canadian radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Craig is applying to the CRTC to renew the licences of its television stations in Calgary, Edmonton, Brandon, Man, and Portage la Prairie, which expire either this year or next. Craig executives have said they will honour previous commitments to spend $14 million on regional production of television dramas, features and mini-series, known as priority programming, before the end of 2003.

They have also promised to spend $10 million on such programming beyond 2003, until the term of the licence for which the company is now applying expires. But on the heels of a CRTC decision Monday that awarded Craig the right to open a station in Toronto and dramatically widen the company's scope among English-speaking viewers, industry officials urged a CRTC panel in Calgary to make the $io-million commitment part of licence negotiations. They also told the panel to demand that Craig reinvest in its A-Channel Production Fund, along the lines of rules imposed on CTV Inc. in 1999. "We believe that this proposed expenditure should be made a condition of licence," said Julia Keatley, president of Burnaby, B.C.-based Keatley Film Ltd.

Elizabeth McDonald, president and chief executive of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, congratulated Craig on its past work with independent producers, but asked the CRTC to require that 75 per cent of Craig's priority prograrnming come from such producers, who are often small-scale. A lobbyist for the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association said Craig should present annual spending and revenue figures on regional project development, licensing and administration to the CRTC and the CFTPA. "It's been our experience that when a broadcaster's promises of performance are not made a condition of licence, they're not necessarily fulfilled," said Nic Wry, of Wry International Consulting. But Craig officials pointed out larger broadcasters, such as CanWest Global Communications have affiliations with production companies. Craig does not have such arrangements, said Joanne Levy, executive director of the A-Channel Production Fund.

That makes proposed conditions, such as the 75 per cent rninimum quota on independent production of priority shows, unfair. "Nobody else has that condition of licence, so why should we when we don't have an affiliated production company?" Levy said. "In practice, most of what we do is with independent production companies and we don't see the point of making it a condition of licence." Asked about a suggestion Craig return profits from production investments to the production fund, Levy was hesitant. "We've already made a commitment to continue spending," she said, referring to the $10 million Craig has slated for future priority production. A decision on the renewals is expected in four to six weeks.

612 em Ave, sw 5 GENIES BEST PIC Production company Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald Alex Frame CBC Radio promises to maintain IQ BOBBLAKEY Calgary Herald The head of CBC Radio's English-language network promises the public broadcaster won't "dumb down" prograrnming in the next round of changes. But Alex Frame acknowledges CBC Radio's audience skews old, and what's on the air doesn't fully reflect Canada's ethnic, cultural and political diversity. CBC has admitted some kind of overhaul is in the works for the fall season, particularly on Radio One the AM service in Calgary and most communities. Frame says details will probably be released in early May on Monday-to-Friday programming, and sometime later for weekend shows. He says he's heard various concerns from listeners while travelling across the country.

Some tell him to be very cautious in making changes. "Others say, 'Do it, but don't mess with my favourite Frame says. And from another group "Their concern is we're going to dumb down the service or that we're going to become market-driven in the context of younger listeners." Frame says such worries are unfounded. "If As It Happens ever tried to pander to a younger demographic, it would fail in a week. I think that's the case with our whole schedule." But CBC Radio can't ignore changes in its audience.

"The question we've asked ourselves is, why is there a shift in the percentage of the (audience) that's over 50? About 10 years ago, 53 per cent of the people who listened to CBC Radio were over 50. Now it's 69 per cent far greater than the actual (population) bulge of the boomers." Rumours circulated at CBC Calgary this past week that decisions had already been made and local shows would be trimmed to allow more of the national feed. But Frame and Alberta regional director Don Orchard insist only preUminary proposals have been outlined. One of CBC Radio's most important quests, Frame says, is to "reflect" Canada as it exists after decades of immigration and shifts in social and political climate. "I listen to the Eye Opener and I know this is Calgary.

It feels like Calgary, tastes like Calgary, talks like Calgary. Are we doing that job of reflection (nationally)? My answer to that question is, better than anybody else, but not nearly good enough." it -i- -a- i'j." jm. a a v. r. 1 ry A A I I.

7 When Mills was asked if the CPO would try to get Dutoit to join then-orchestra he said: "Dutoit would be a phenomenal catch as music director for any orchestra We would love to have him come here, there's no question about that. However, we are booked for next year." William Littler, an instructor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, also said the orchestra owes its international success to Dutoit. But the old-school conductor's intense style came at a price. "He's a difficult man because he's very demanding," said Littler. "This has historically been the case with most famous conductors.

They have been autocrats." But some MSO players jumped to their former conductor's defence. "We are surprised," said MSO violinist Jean-Marc Leblanc. "The musicians are very proud of what we've accomplished with Charles Dutoit." scouts site would be located as to whether we would be in favour of it or not Any sites are purely speculation at this Alberta Film Commissioner Paul Raymond said local realtor Bev Wot-ton is the principal of Legend Studios and the person trying to get the studio building project off the ground. Wotton could not be reached for comment 31 "CarwGiion Victoria Snee. OAF-TV WB DALLAS CDLUMBIAj 1 PICTURES 1.1 raxt' CSOWFOOYcBosawt' CINE PI FX OOtON I I FAMOUS I'LAV I JVESTHIUS AVI RS A NOW "IYINCj! 11IREOTORIES ROW SHOWTIMFS 'MlilrffliMMta V.

W- f'jfffli I I Anderson Jones, ONLINE "Jk Comic Qom! Sheila McClure, AP TELEVISION I I' Paul Fischer, DABKHOHIZONS kff 5 I I MAUREEN DePATIE Calgary Herald Residents of the Municipal District of Rocky View may soon have movie stars and film crews for neighbours if a local production company's new facility goes as planned. Legend Studios is scouting Rocky View sites for the right place to build a major, permanent, production facility. "It's still only in the concept stage, as far as we know," says Stan Schwartzenberger, director of planning and development for the Municipal District of Rocky view. "No land here has been purchased yet We have had meetings with people from Legend Studios, but no formal applica ii 1 A in StX 1 Cameron Diaz Christina Applegate Selma Blair -me SweetestThinq A rnmantir rrrrcri Aithrn it thca 01 mar jmm Nightly 6:30 8 8:50 1 Jm YV Salt Sun Mats 812:50 83:00 265-0120 w.ttopton.ron. Nair Only HA Monsoon Sat Sun Mats 12:45 sjmi Wedding too new film 14A.

Nightly: 7:00 1 9:20 pm MMiillHMkltl Salt Sun. 1:30 i 4:00 pm iNightly 9:50 Only (ig -J. I Sal Sun Mats 4:15 Oscar Winner 'Best Actress-Halle Berry' ieml MONSTER'S BALL '3 Everyone wants to be Sewai Content KISSING JESSICA STEIN "S20 til mini IIIHIS PIIIUI 11 inn 1 lit SonyPictures.com 1 UiNLPLFX Olil SUMRIDSE SPKTBUM I AMOIIS HLAVtHS FAMOUS Ml AVf-flS omaimtmiW COLISEUM' LAMOUS PLAYERS CINFPI OHEON FAMOUS SILVTJClTT CttiNlinmisll EAU CLAIRE MARKET PHESENTFDINWfTf- PflESLN'ED IN CHFCK THEATRE PI MALL ALL DAY Matinees Everyday '200 Eminqs 3 FRIDAY, APRIL 12 THURSDAY, APRIL 18 '''iTmrTTTTg 0 GtfT CERTIFICATES BIRTHDAY MRTltS AVAILABlf TEAR ROUNO "Am I ill 1 ill ir lily It: it -i a 'h HG mature Irtcmw 1:003:15 6:55 9:45 1 ITJZSr0 12:503:406:509:35 jAWAu.TOKMiM.a 1:103:507:109:50 iS.r0' 1:053:557:0510:00 12:453:356:45 9:301 f0065 1:154:05 7:15 HARRY PCTTH I THI PHILOSOPHER'S STONI PG IngliBinK) icenei IO JIMMY NEUTRON 1254 15 surunooma rvnrm 1 4A rrOTM-' V.aa-w hrvyjgo friooghout tVVJ MOTHMAN PROPHECIES Kj frigfitufiing ignei 7'AV OCEAN'S 1 1 NO PL A YING checktheatre directories for LOCATIONS SH0VWMES 9:55.