summer hiatus June 28, 2007
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I’ll be away from the computer until at least July 5th - so go have some mojitos and hotdogs while I’m gone!
adventurous programming and why you should care about it June 26, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a commentThe American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has recently named those orchestras and organizations which were selected to be honored for “Adventurous Programming” during the 2006-2007 season. I also have a connection to a couple of those groups honored, which I’ll talk about after the jump. (more…)
maazel strikes back at critics June 22, 2007
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Well, it seems that Lorin Maazel has gotten tired of the many swipes taken at him by US critics, mostly by (but not limited to) the New York Times gang.
Here’s a sample:
He also expressed his disdain for the musical press. “When Leonard Bernstein was director of the New York Philharmonic, the critics dealt dishonourably with him, wanted him out. But American critics are incompetent.” It is possible to disagree with that, at least to a degree.
“If journalists wrote of sports as they do of music,” Maazel continued, “they would be fired a thousand times. But classical music is a niche field, and newspaper editors understand nothing about it . . . More than anything, critics hate the great music that appeals to all of us. Mediocrities cannot abide genuine talent. They turn up their noses at Puccini, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, but praise certain contemporary composers whose music is unbearable.”
You can read the complete article here.
Are string quartets meant to stand? June 21, 2007
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[Photo courtesy Chamber Music Northwest]
I’ve been ruminating about my experience of watching the Emerson Quartet perform at Carnegie Hall a week ago today. I was telling a friend about the concert, and happened to note to her that the quartet now performs standing up (with the exception of cellist David Finckel, who sits on an elevated platform). She was quite dumbfounded that they had continued with the experiment. I had heard that they were performing this way, but did not know why or for how long they would do so. Lately, I’ve noticed that some younger quartets (those still in music school or just out) have taken up this manner of performing.
My question is this: are quartets meant to perform standing up? Is it still chamber music? (more…)
nike = yellow cab? June 19, 2007
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[photo by nookly]
My trip back from New York was memorable, to say the least. It involved one of those mythical New York City cab rides that one only hears about, but almost never directly experiences. (more…)
my nyc brush with young hollywood… June 16, 2007
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I was walking back to the hotel after the Emerson Quartet concert on Thursday night, and happened to pass a pissed-off starlet who was being pursued by a pack of “tween” girls and their chaperone. (more…)
david letterman, cab rides, and the nytimes June 16, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, add a commentWell, I’m back in Portland in one piece, which considering my day yesterday (Friday) is no small achievement! Aside from a ferry, the four days I was in New York involved traveling in most every other form of conveyance. I was transported in a jumbo jet, taxi, passenger van, bus and a two types of trains: subway and surface. (more…)
carnegie hall June 14, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, 3commentsLast night I got to play Carnegie Hall! Was it with one of the world’s great orchestras, or even our wonderful Oregon Symphony? No - it was with Portland’s own sensational band Pink Martini. There were over 20 of us on stage for the (long) evening, and we all received a hero’s welcome to the Big Apple’s greatest stage. It was, quite simply, a love fest. There was, in the words of trombonist Robert Taylor, a literal “roar” that came off the stage as we concluded the set with the band’s signature encore “Brazil”. Truly a night to remember! (more…)
deliciousness from crema bakery+cafe June 11, 2007
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Pink Martini violinist Paloma Griffin is one of my long-time friends who gather each week for coffee and lively conversation on all things. She has been regaling us all with her photos of food and drink from the recent Pink tours, and she brought along her camera to our last coffee to document the spoils.
Former OSO Bassist Settles in at NSO June 11, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a commentFrom the blog of NSO (National Symphony Orchestra) principal bassist Robert Oppelt, an interview with the NSO’s newest member of the bass section, Paul DeNola. Paul and his wife Jiyoung were two of our favorite people, and we miss them very much - it’s great to hear that they’re doing so well back in D.C.! Here’s his comments about his time adjusting to life in the NSO: (more…)
