speaking in forked tongues? August 29, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, bloggers, contemporary, music, portland, seattle, summer festivals, add a commentMy OSO colleague Ron Blessinger is also the artistic director of the acclaimed new music ensemble Third Angle, and this September his group and the t:b:a festival (Festival of Time-based Art) are presenting a huge multimedia project devoted to the work of landscape architect Lawrence Halprin and his choreographer wife, Anna within some of his groundbreaking public spaces in downtown Portland, Oregon.
The project has had some incredible energy and collaboration poured into it (as well as a ton of money), and looks to be the major event of the t:b:a festival this year.
Well, the Seattle P-I’s arts critic, Regina Hackett, picked up on a press release and wrote the following in her blog on the P-I’s website:
One of the things I love about Portland, Oregon: You can be anything. If I lived there, my business card would say, “Regina Hackett. Speaker in tongues.”
The subject came up while reading a release from Portland’s “The City Dance of Lawrence and Anna Halprin” with “The Third Angle New Music Ensemble.” At the bottom of the list of choreographers, Randy Gragg gets a credit.
Randy Gragg? He’s an art and urban spaces critic, formerly of The Oregonian and now editor of a fancy lifestyle magazine. It’s way beneath his talents but not his pay grade. (Newspapers are floundering; lifestyle magazines are in the pink.)
Working there makes Gragg a sell-out. The term was an insult during the heyday of the counterculture but became a compliment during the Reagan administration. I’m sure I’d sell out if there were anyone to sell out to.
Is it just me, or is this completely snarky and unprofessional “journalism”? Why so vitriolic and transparently jealous and spiteful? I can’t believe that the online editor (if there even is one) allowed this to make it to the web unchallenged. It’s no wonder that print journalism is going the way of the dinosaur, with such low standards.
If you compare such a screed to what the Oregonian’s David Stabler writes on a regular basis in his blog on classical music, you’d see no relation whatsoever. David writes professionally at all times - it doesn’t matter that his words are appearing “only” on a computer screen and not on newsprint, he writes as if everyone in the state will be reading his words, not just some on-line cognoscenti looking to see who will be skewered next in some oh-so-clever way.
Well, Ron took out his electronic pen and wrote back - you can see the exchange here.
more columbus opinion March 16, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, add a commentSam Bergman, violist with the Minnesota Orchestra, has written an insightful and compelling post about the current situation in Columbus.
Here’s the crux of his argument against the draconian cuts proposed by the CSO board and management:
Consider it from another angle: let’s say that the Minnesota Timberwolves, plagued for years by slumping ticket sales, underperforming teams, and a deeply unpopular general manager, decided that they just could no longer compete in the hockey-mad winter sports marketplace of Minneapolis/St. Paul. But rather than move the team, or fold completely, or sell to a new local owner who could try to succeed where others had failed, let’s say that the team announced that it would be laying off five of its twelve players, and playing only 65 games per season, rather than the customary 82. (They’ll keep the unpopular GM on, of course, just like in real life.)
Read the complete post here.
So, what’s my take on this? (more…)
henry fogel on how orchestras look February 15, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, the orchestra world, add a commentHenry Fogel, former administrator of the Chicago Symphony, has a post about the visual aspect of orchestral performance. Not much new ground covered, but some interesting questions raised.
I do not believe that the intense involvement physically demonstrated by the Berlin Philharmonic or the Vienna Philharmonic or other European orchestras that I’ve seen is fake. Something in the music resonates with their internal being. And somehow that seems different in this country. Is it the way our musicians are taught? Is it some reserve in the American character, a resistance to showing emotional engagement? I don’t know the answer, but I believe that we need to discuss and explore the question.
Thoughts, anyone? Anyone … anyone? Bueller?
music, life, death February 6, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : composition, contemporary, music, add a commentA memorable post from composer Daron Hagen relating a composition lesson with David Diamond at Juilliard.
My favorite bit: (more…)
eddins takes heat on audition blog post January 31, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : auditions, conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a commentBill Eddins, music director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, wrote a post a few weeks back about the mixed experience that is being on an orchestral audition committee. He wrote about the process and frustrations of being on the principal trumpet audition committee in Edmonton.
He got a lot of feedback - some good, some bad, some very ugly. (more…)
musician-hosted series in minnesota January 24, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, education, music, the orchestra world, add a comment
Violist (aren’t we an enterprising bunch?!) Sam Bergman of the Minnesota Orchestra has been writing and hosting the educational series called Inside the Classics. (more…)
valentina lisitsa recital January 23, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, 1 comment so far 
Photo credit: Alexei Kuznetsoff
Courtesy of Columbia Artists Managment
James Bash reviews the recital of Valentina Lisitsa, who is now best known around Portland as the last-minute reliever who saves the day when artists cancel or have visa problems (as with Rachel Cheung, whose problems with an artist visa have more to do with her parents than the US Government, as David Stabler reported). She should also be known as a pianist who should be getting first-call gigs as well (a situation which I have the feeling some Local Arts Organization(s) will soon rectify).
Read about last night’s recital on the Portland Piano Series at James’ blog.
columbus symphony supporters unite January 23, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, add a commentA group of enterprising Columbus Symphony boosters have started both a blog/website. Check them out for updates and ideas for how you can help make a difference for the Columbus Symphony.
They have a great editorial cartoon by Jeff Stahler from the Columbus Dispatch posted:
wild bill on jacksonville December 17, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, add a comment
Bill Eddins, conductor
A shout out to Bill Eddins and his excellent blog, wherein he engages in a lively discourse over the lockout situation at the Jacksonville Symphony.
more reaction to nyphil n. korea news December 11, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a comment
UPDATE (11/12): Yet another follow-follow-up article from the New York Times:
But before addressing the news media, Mr. Pak, the permanent representative of his country to the United Nations, met briefly with orchestra officials and their public relations advisers. They agreed to avoid discussing North Korea’s nuclear program, a major concern of the United States. “Otherwise the atmosphere will be politicized,” Mr. Pak told them.
North Korea invited the Philharmonic to play in Pyongyang, the capital, and the orchestra has accepted. It will spend 48 hours there, performing on Feb. 26 after a tour in China. The State Department has fully backed the trip and has provided advice and planning.
A follow-up article from the New York Times:
If North Korea keeps its promises, potentially millions of its isolated, tightly controlled citizens are likely to hear their national anthem played on the radio by the New York Philharmonic. And then they will hear “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a quintessential American symbol, in a place long subjected to anti-American propaganda.
A blog entry by conductor Bill Eddins:
In case you are living in a cultural cave (why then are you reading this blog of all things?) the NYPhil just announced that they are going to play in North Korea at the end of their Asian tour. This has generated a fair share of controversy. No less of a pundit than Terry Teachout is pretty dead set against this idea, as are various National Security advisers, etc. They argue that this act will merely legitimize a totalitarian regime. Not to start a blog war between myself and Terry, someone who’s opinion I happen to take very seriously, but he is dead wrong.
A blog entry by Drew McManus:
As such, unless there are indisputable facts that support the conclusion that the New York Philharmonic’s trip will directly support oppression, it is time to trust that the universal language will begin to forge bridges across rivers of misinformation and propaganda. As Bill wrote “God knows it may take a while but this can and will be a first step.”
