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U.S. orchestras begin recording again March 30, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a comment

Caught this article on Yahoo about the recent (and very small) expansion in the recording activities of some US orchestras.

Here’s the first couple paragraphs:

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Not long ago, American orchestras considered the notion of creating new recordings an almost impossible dream.

Among the hurdles: longstanding union regulations that made the process untenably expensive in the United States, a market flooded with mid-priced catalog reissues and budget recordings that made new full-priced titles less appealing to consumers, changed financial expectations at major labels (demanding that classical recordings earn their keep rather than be prestige money-losing projects) and the sales woes of the broader recording industry.

But several world-renowned American orchestras have figured out how to start recording again — many adopting a do-it-yourself mind-set that centers on digital retail. Already familiar to indie rock acts, the approach was entirely new terrain to orchestras that in decades past had enjoyed lavish contracts.

on witches and sprites January 20, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, new music, the orchestra world, add a comment

Last night we performed the first of our three concerts of Classical 8 - whose program is:

James MacMillan - The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (Oregon premiere)
Felix Mendelssohn - Complete Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

It wouldn’t have occurred to me without hearing Carlos mention it in his remarks before the performance, but the two pieces are linked by the theme of witches. I think they could also be linked by the premise that they are just about as diametrically opposed as two pieces can be in terms of their aesthetic and their basic view of the world. (more…)

if I’m tired it must be january January 14, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far

Classical Program 6
Gregory Vajda, conducting

Bartók - Miraculous Mandarin, complete version, first OSO performance

Intermission

Debussy - Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun
Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 2, Ingrid Fliter, pianist
Dukas - Sorcerer’s Apprentice

T.S. Eliot thought that April was the cruelest month, but for me it’s January, with February a close runner-up. It’s because December is full of marginally fulfilling holiday stuff, followed by frantic running around for the holidays themselves, then a bit of blissful oblivion, followed by a panic that the season starts up again in five days, with really difficult programs, and I haven’t touched my viola since that last Nutcracker. Then it’s a sprint to the end of March, when the spring break arrives. (more…)

rehearsals & conductors January 12, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far

cond.jpg

Rehearsals are an interesting animal. Maybe this is because they are run by conductors, who are very interesting animals, while they are largely inflicted upon orchestral musicians, who are very, very interesting animals. (more…)

cascade head loses founder/director January 11, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, soloists & recitals, add a comment

David Stabler breaks the story that the Cascade Head Music Festival’s founder and artistic director, Sergiu Luca, has left the festival. This is a tremendous loss for the Oregon festival scene, and I hope that he finds a way to get back into the Oregon arts circles again.

practice, schmactice January 6, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a comment

woodshed

The month of January holds some big programs for us here at the Oregon Symphony. This week we begin with rehearsals for next weekend’s classical series 6 concerts under Resident conductor Gregory Vajda, which includes Bartók’s complete score to his ballet-pantomime The Miraculous Mandarin, and Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Next week Carlos Kalmar returns to conduct classical 7, which includes one of the most difficult modern scores I’ve had the “pleasure” to look at by Scottish composer James MacMillan - The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, along with the complete incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn. Finally, at the end of the month comes classical 8 (with Gregory Vajda back on the podium) with Schumann’s Fourth Symphony (not too difficult) and the formidably difficult Chamber Symphony by John Adams.

Phew! (more…)

wild bill takes an audition January 6, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : auditions, conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

Conductor and blogger extraordinaire William Eddins writes an excellent post about taking part in a music director search - as a prospective candidate - by the Charlotte Symphony.  (more…)

news roundup December 30, 2007

Posted by Charles Noble in : miscellaneous, music, add a comment

Some recent items for your consideration:

more local groups praised December 29, 2007

Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, chamber music, music, new music, add a comment

I added to the recent post about David Stabler’s list of the best classical events of 2007 to include the joint performance by Third Angle and fEARnoMusic.  Check out the expanded post here.

letters in response to Seattle NYTimes article December 29, 2007

Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far

In the upcoming Sunday edition of the New York Times, several letters are printed in the Arts section - you can read the complete letters (as printed) here.

Here are some of the best parts of some of them: (more…)