think globally, act locally? February 28, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : education, music, add a commentI was taking part in a meeting this past Wednesday of a task force of players, board members, and management personnel which has met off and on for the last 7 months to discuss the future of the Oregon Symphony. It’s been a pleasure to serve on this committee, and there have been no shortages of good ideas, lively exchanges, and eye-opening revelations from all comers.
While I can’t go into any specifics about what we’ve talked about, our last meeting concerned the future of the Oregon Symphony’s education initiatives. Many of you probably aren’t directly affected by the education arm of the Oregon Symphony’s mission - so I’ll give you a quick rundown on what this vital arm of the organization presents to students both in Portland and around the state during the 2007-2008 season. (more…)
the main event February 28, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : fun, 2commentsThanks to Alex Ross for pointing this out - check out the event listing carefully… (more…)
postcards from the edge… February 27, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, bloggers, music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so farBoise Phiharmonic violist/blogger/cyclist/survivor Jen Drake tells us about the audiences in Boise. Worth a look - it’ll make ya laugh.
columbus recording its own memorial February 27, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a commentSad, but true:
Douglas Fisher
Member, Columbus Symphony Orchestra
President, Local 103, AFMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2008
Columbus Symphony Musicians Vote To Allow Live
RecordingNext week’s Columbus Symphony Orchestra program will be recorded live for the international recording company Denon, which will release it on compact disc. At the personal request of Music Director Junichi Hirokami, the Musicians voted to allow this recording under a new national recording agreement which allows live recordings to be produced for a tenth of what a normal studio recording of the same program would cost.
oso violinist thinks out loud February 26, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : bloggers, music, add a comment 
Ron Blessinger, violinist with the Oregon Symphony, blogger, and artistic director of the Third Angle New Music Ensemble, well be a guest on the new Oregon Public Broadcasting radio show Think Out Loud, on Wednesday, February 27th from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. You can listen on your radio at 91.5 FM in the Portland metro area, or listen worldwide on OPB’s internet stream. You can also download the podcast later in the day to enjoy at your leisure.
The topic of discussion will be Oregon-based musical culture. Discuss…
shostakovich’s fifth symphony - the debate continues February 26, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, audio, music, the orchestra world, add a commentThis coming weekend - Sunday, March 2nd @ 2 p.m., to be exact - the Oregon Symphony will present the next concert in its series Inside the Score. Under examination this time around is the composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his Fifth Symphony. (more…)
local connection to nyphil pyongyang visit February 25, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, add a commentMany of you may be unaware that Oregon Symphony violinist Elena Hirsu’s father Valentin is a cellist with the New York Phiharmonic. He is profiled in today’s New York Times while the orchestra is visiting North Korea. He was asking for information from North Korean musicians as to the whereabouts of several orphaned North Korean refugee musicians whom he knew from music school in Bucharest, Romania, over 50 years ago, and who were later returned back to North Korea after the Korean War. (more…)
best oscar moment February 25, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, popular music, video, add a comment
Photo credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com
The best moment of the bloated-as-usual Academy Awards ceremony had to be the second chance for Marketa Irglova to give her acceptance speech as co-winner of Best Original Song - Falling Slowly - from the movie Once. And it was a poignant and beautiful one, too: (more…)
spring is almost here… February 25, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : photography, add a comment
I can’t wait - it’s hit 60°F once already…
bela fleck and the flecktones February 24, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far
Not much to say about this one except - go, go tonight and come back on Monday night. I think it’s a must-see show, and a highlight of the pops season. I’ve heard rumors (quite possibly untrue) that this is the last tour of the Flecktones, so it’s literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them live in Portland for one last time. Rarely do I have the pleasure of just sitting and drinking in such incredible musicianship with an awestruck grin on my face. I know, you’re saying to yourself, “it’s just a banjo” - trust me, it’s much, much more - get your tickets now!
