Review: Mozart frames Pacific Symphony concert led by Cho-Liang Lin. The Orange County Register, Jan. 8, 2016.
Pierre Boulez, 1925-2016
French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, a giant figure in postwar classical music and a major presence in Southern California, has died at the age of 90 at his home in Germany.
The New York Times’ obituary is here.
I had the privilege to hear Boulez conduct many times, and spoke to him at least twice, including in a wonderful interview in 2003. Given his reputation as an iconoclast, I was quite nervous when I phoned him in Paris, but he couldn’t have been more friendly or generous with his time.
To read the interview click here.
Selling opera, or, how to put butts in seats, any old butts
From 2011. I don’t know what I had for breakfast that day.
I happened upon Los Angeles Opera’s re-designed website the other day and immediately noticed a bold, new marketing initiative designed, no doubt, to bring in the novice listener, the kind that is frightened of opera, or otherwise unsure of the art form. “Lose Yourself In Opera” the site encourages, and then offers some helpful hints on how you might go about doing that.
For instance, you might buy a ticket to something called Eugene Onegin. “What that?” you say. “From the composer of Swan Lake!” LA Opera answers. (Gosh, is Natalie Portman in it? She’s hot.)
Or how does Romeo et Juliette strike your fancy? Too French? Unsure? It’s “The World’s Most Famous Love Story,” LA Opera explains and then as it dawns on you that it’s that Romeo and Juliet you click on the icon and buy a ticket. Simple.
Getting into the spirit, I offer the…
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Waldemar von Baußnern: Symphony No. 7, ‘Die Ungarische’ (1926)
Hans Müller-Kray conducts the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
I: Lebhaft und heiter
II: Langsam
III: Einleitung: Kraftvoll bewegt, aber nicht zu rasch — Thema mit Variationen: Altes Volkslied “Die ungarischen Husaren” — Finale
To hear other works in my Neglected Symphonies series, click here.
Interviews: 2015
Milena Kitic, mezzo-soprano. Feb. 14
Patrick Morganelli, composer of the opera “Hercules vs. Vampires.” April 18
Ray Chen, violinist. May 8
Steven Schick, percussionist. June 5
Elizabeth Blumenstock, Baroque violinist. June 19
Narong Prangcharoen, composer. Sept. 25
Paul Watkins, Emerson cellist. Oct. 16
Roger Kalia, Pacific Symphony assistant conductor. Oct. 22
Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, L.A. Philharmonic assistant conductor. Dec. 6
Related post:
The Reger Awards: 2015
A look back at the year on the local classical music scene:
2015 Reger Awards: The year in classical music. The Orange County Register, Dec. 23, 2015
Related post:
2015: Features
Some feature articles I wrote for The Orange County Register during the calendar year; click on titles to read:
Nonprofit arts can be good for Orange County business. July 26.
Reclaiming ‘Bolero’. Aug. 7.
A classical strategy for the great outdoors. Aug. 16.
Musical bucket list: 50 classical pieces to hear before you die. Aug. 20.
Concert etiquette baffling? Here’s a hand. Oct. 9.
Neglected symphonies catch online ear. Nov. 20.
Related post:
William Henry Fry: Niagara Symphony (1854)
Sort of the “Become Ocean” of its day.
Tony Rowe conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
To hear other works in my Neglected Symphonies series, click here.
Lots of Rachmaninoff
Review: Los Angeles Philharmonic indulges in Rachmaninoff. The Orange County Register, Dec. 20, 2015.
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