Two more pieces released from jail at ocregister.com. The first is an essay, or think piece, on humor in music, the second a review of the opening concert in this year’s Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar. You may read them for free.
Essay: The lighter side of classical music. June 21, 2013.
Review: Baroque Festival opens with concerto rarities. June 17, 2013.
classical life 
In answer to your question, NO, Meistersinger is NOT funny.
I thought not, Lisa. Thanks.
I agree that Shostakovich 9 is great fun. I think it’s also subversive because he wrote it fully knowing that the government wanted a hymn to Stalin and he turned in 25 minutes of mostly circus music. It sounded like he was clearly having fun writing it but was also thumbing his nose simultaneously. Brilliant.
Yes, subversive fun. The first movement’s jokes are rather obvious, I think, but I like the finale’s big joke, which is the main theme: an importantly rising scale which reaches its peak, only to go straight back down again. Nothing to see here, ma’am, move on.
The end of the Sixth is my favorite “circus” moment in Shostakovich — so bizarre, so giddy.