I've heard some wonderful performances from Levine. Given what many corporate executives receive for underperformance, he is underpaid. Steve Smolian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl Miller" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 11:02 AM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] well, this might explain why so many sonic treasures languish in government warehouses > James Levine supposedly makes over $3.5M a year, a combination of his > Boston and Met appointments. What does he bring that could possibly > justify the expense? For me, even if one could bring back Toscanini, > Furtwangler or Koussevitzky from the dead, they still wouldn't be worth > that kind of money. > > For me, the problem rests with those empowered with oversight. Boards > tend to be populated by those who have enjoyed great success in business > and naturally they will tend to trust those who, at the very least, share > some similar measure of success. Unfortunately, it is can be far more > difficult to measure success in the non-profit world and sadly Boards > don't often see that there are differences. I was reminded of the recent > obituary of the conductor Landau. In the obit, a quote from the President > of the Board of one of the orchestras conducted by Landau was cited as a > reason why Landau left the orchestra...the head of the board supposedly > said something like the programming should be designed to attract > donations. While there are no simple answers, one could assume, that the > primary purpose of the organization was to raise money...but to what end? > So it could raise more money? Is there ever enough money for a non-proft? > > Disgraceful? Yes, but for me, it is equally absurd and sad. > > Karl > > > > Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ****http://tinyurl.com/27man8 > > This guy is allegedly a "public servant." He should be fired and the > office put under very strict oversight, with the executive budget cut to > the bone. Someone wanting to get rich and live like a > CEO doesn't belong in charge of the Smithsonian, or the LOC or any other > government institution. Such jobs are not for those in it for the rich and > famous living large life. > > No wonder so much audio material in the hands of the Smithsonian will > never be conveniently available to the public (public = owners and funders > of said museum). Disgraceful! > > -- Tom Fine > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/702 - Release Date: 2/25/2007 > 3:16 PM > >