So, you want to lead an orchestra …
Esa-Pekka Salonen: 10 tips to becoming a conductor. BBC News, Nov. 29, 2013.
Mozart: K. 387
The finale of Mozart’s String Quartet No. 14, K. 387, the first of the quartets he dedicated to Haydn. Mozart is having some fun in this, juxtaposing the simplest, lightest folk(-like) music with very learned counterpoint (including a double fugue at one point), showing off his range, as it were. I’m not crazy for the bathroom acoustic of the recording, but otherwise these guys are pretty good.
Review: Conlon conducts Britten’s ‘War Requiem’
Students lift Britten’s ‘War Requiem’. Orange County Register, Nov. 25, 2013.
Review: Los Angeles Opera’s ‘Magic Flute’
Animated ‘Magic Flute’ debuts at L.A. Opera. Orange County Register, Nov. 24, 2013.
Review: Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra
Review: Boston Pops do their thing. Orange County Register, Nov. 23, 2013.
Critic’s notebook
Some thoughts on warming up before concerts … and classical music audiences.
Regular readers of this blog will have already read the first item (on warming up) of this notebook. The second item (on audiences) is entirely new.
Click here to read my critic’s notebook. The link is free.
Review: Zeitouni
I was very impressed by the young Canadian conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni when he made his debut with the Pacific Symphony last week. Nice program, too.
Click here to read my review. The link is free.
Review: Leo Ornstein’s Piano Quintet
It sounded to me like a major find.
Click here to read Hamelin, Pacifica Quartet, revive Ornstein quintet. Orange County Register, Nov. 13, 2013.
Also, Rick Shultz’s preview article on Ornstein and the quintet, in which Rick talks to, among others, the composer’s 83-year-old son — yes, we included his age — is well worth your time. Click here to read it. I get an editing credit on this one, though not the pay.
Review: James Galway and the Irish Chamber Orchestra
In today’s Orange County Register online, I review last week’s concert given by James Galway and the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Segerstrom Concert Hall. The link is free.
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