One of the best classical music concert-finding and news resources on the web is Opus 1 Classical. One neat feature of their site is that the picture on their page banner changes each time you visit. On any given trip you might see a piano, a trumpet, a flute, or a violin. My favorite though […]
Let me explain this picture. I’m currently breaking in some new reeds. This is a process that continues in perpetuity. There are four empty reed boxes in the upper right. (A box contains ten reeds.) If you count, there are thirty-two reeds (the two in the cup of water are baritone reeds, not alto reeds). […]
In the composer-as-critic debate, some moments of clarity from Alex Ross and Elodie Lauten.
A certain music-loving community that lived on a certain block in a certain city was thrilled when a pianist moved into an apartment on their street. They were even more excited when the pianist put up a sign in his window that read: “The Nation’s Best Pianist.” The residents of the community enjoyed hearing him […]
Congratulations to Bobby Julich, who became the first American to ever win Paris-Nice, an early season classic stage race. You can’t help but be excited for Bobby. He burst onto the international cycling scene in 1998, when he finished third in the Tour de France behind the defending champion Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani, who […]
I braved the elements Thursday night to catch a performance of Robert Lepage’s one-man show the far side of the moon (2000) at the Power Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Michigan. I’m glad I went. Yves Jacques was sensational. And there was a score by Laurie Anderson.
the far […]
Thanks to Jerry Bowles of Sequenza21, the other home to my words on the web, for coaxing me into the blogosphere. I was hesitant to enter this realm at first because I thought it would feel like somebody reading my diary. Yet after posting for three months over at Sequenza21, I’ve become addicted. I’m launching […]
I’m going to stay out of the scuffle on the main page at Sequenza21. However, there’s one issue from Anthony De Mare’s concert that both Anthony Tommasini and Frank Oteri bring up in their review and rebuttal, respectively–playing from memory.
One fact from Mr. De Mare’s concert that they both mention, was that Mr. De […]
Composers take note. Here’s how to get your music played and receive that critical praise you’ve been hungering for:
1. Marry a world-class soloist.
2. Become the music director of a famous orchestra.
3. Write your spouse a concerto.
4. Take your orchestra on the road.
Hey, it worked for Andre Previn, who led his wife Anne-Sophie Mutter in his […]
Although Belgium switched its currency from Francs to Euros in 2002, they really knew how to treat their cultural heroes. Proud of one of their own whose invention is known and performed around the world, they gave Adolphe Sax the distinction of gracing the 200 Belgian franc note. How about a Leo Fender $100 bill?