lang lang watch March 18, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, soloists & recitals, add a comment
Since the piano sensation Lang Lang is coming to play a Gala performance with the Oregon Symphony in October 2008 (Friday, October 3, to be exact), I thought that keeping you Portland classical music and piano fans apprised of his activities might be in order.
So, here’s the first Lang Lang watch - enjoy.
- Do you remember that funny listing of Lang Lang vs. the Chinese Philharmonic? Apparently Lang Lang won the bout, as the tour has been canceled.
- Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer discusses Lang Lang’s “persuasive power”.
- Lang Lang “goes ballistic” at a Minnesota Schubert recital.
- “Virtuosity and sneakers” in Philly.
- “Has Lang Lang grown up?” in Minnesota.
- Lang Lang vs. Yundi Li in Washington, D.C.
eschenbach to national symphony? January 17, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a comment 
Apparently the rumor mill at the Philadelphia Orchestra is buzzing with news that Christoph Eschenbach is due to be named music director of the National Symphony - Peter Dobrin of ArtsWatch reports:
That’s been the backstage rumor lately at the Philadelphia Orchestra - that the Washington, D.C. ensemble is set to name Eschenbach its next music director. It certainly added credibility to the rumor that Nigel Boon, the National’s artistic chief, recently stopped by the Kimmel Center to hear several Eschenbach concerts. Now, lots can happen between courting time and sign-on-the-dotted-line time. But Eschenbach will conduct the National in February in a special benefit concert; that might be a good time to expect an announcement.
more seattle news January 17, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, seattle, the orchestra world, 1 comment so farThe Seattle Weekly has printed an article centering around the “one-woman law firm” of Brenda Little and her lawsuit against Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony on behalf of violinist Peter Kaman. Read the entire article here.
Here’s a tidbit: (more…)
more seattle response January 3, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a commentDavid Stabler found this article from yesterday’s Seattle P-I, written by guest columnist Bernard Jacobsen (who I remember as the program annotator for the Philadelphia Orchestra back in the early ’90s). I’m not sure why the classical music writer(s) for the P-I and its sister publication the Times were not able to write what Jacobsen has, but I’m not in the newspaper business.
Here’s his summation:
All the acrimony is the more regrettable at a time when the orchestra’s budget is balanced, its subscription base has expanded vastly under Schwarz’s leadership, it is one of the few U.S. orchestras active in the recording field, and its artistic standards are higher than ever, and comparable with any to be found among the competition. “Much of the orchestra’s success,” Wakin and Oestreich concede, “can be attributed to its conductor.” It is a pity that that acknowledgement should have been buried in an altogether too public and altogether too negatively insinuating washing of a few frustrated people’s dirty linen.
news roundup December 30, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : miscellaneous, music, add a commentSome recent items for your consideration:
- Detroit Confident in Slatkin - from the Detroit Free Press
- Life and Death - is length of life everything for a composer?, from the New York Times
- Broader Audience for Classical Radio - classical radio done right - from the Chicago Tribune
- Changes at Utah Symphony and Opera? - from the Deseret Morning News
- ‘Onerous’ quote backfiring? - management gaffes in Jacksonville lockout - from the Florida Times Union
- Jacksonville lockout has lasting effects - from the Florida Times Union
letters in response to Seattle NYTimes article December 29, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so farIn 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…)
OSO posts improved numbers December 18, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a commentI just received a press release from the Oregon Symphony outlining improved ticket sales (up only slightly from last year, but with six fewer concerts (36 vs. 39) presented it represents greater attendance per concert). Read the complete release below. (more…)
slatkin to detroit October 8, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a comment
Conductor Leonard Slatkin, one of the most prominent figures in American music during the last three decades, will be named today as music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Slatkin’s appointment, all but a certainty since midsummer, ends an unusually long search that began when Neeme Järvi announced his intention to step down as music director in 2005 after a popular 15-year run.
the king is dead September 5, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, add a comment
Luciano Pavarotti, legendary Italian tenor and larger-than-life personality, died just a few hours ago at his home in Modena, Italy. He was 71. You can read the NYTimes obituary here.
I never knew him, and never heard him sing live - but his incomparable sound has touched anyone who has ever heard him, either live or via recordings. My most treasured aural moment of his is his great recording of Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot, and the great charisma that he exhibits throughout. My favorite part of this recording of the aria comes after his incredible last note, held out as long, (no - longer!) as possible, and the orchestra (The London Philharmonic, under Zubin Mehta) is clearly playing for their lives, going over the top, simply mad with pent up emotion over the incredible performance that they have just accompanied, and you can practically see the brass players’ tongues coming out of the bells of their instruments, the string players collecting sawdust underneath their chairs from the frantic sawing fortissimos - it’s amazing, and it makes me nearly weep every time I hear this recording, from simple joy and awe.
You can find the aria for download at iTunes, here.
keep on truckin’ August 22, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, 1 comment so farIt’s amazing what exercise can do for you. After making my Most-depressing-post-ever™, I decided to take the bike out and ride the crap out of it. For me that means doing 11 miles at an average speed of 13.5 miles per hour, with a couple small hills but mostly flat terrain. I feel much better now, and might actually get a good night’s sleep.
A couple of addition thoughts about some news tidbits from the musical world. About the Seattle Symphony’s Four Concertmaster thingamabob: well, my mother told me if I had nothing good to say, then say nothing at all. When I first read the story from the online version of the Seattle P.I., I stared at the computer screen for about 30 seconds with my mouth hanging open and small, high-pitched whimpering sounds coming out every few seconds.
Anyway, are any of you planning on coming to one of our two outdoor parks concerts in the coming week? They’re both free, so you really have no excuse not to come by! The first is a Arbor Lodge Park on Saturday, August 25th at 7:00 p.m. Get more info here. Why not make an evening of it? Stop by the Arbor Lodge New Seasons Market, pick up some fixings for a nice evening’s picnic, and enjoy the show! The second free concert is at Waterfront Park (just south of the Hawthorne Bridge) on Thursday, August 30th at 7:00 p.m. (but come at 5:30 to hear the Portland Youth Philharmonic and claim a good spot on the lawn). If it rains, the concert will take place at the same time, but on the following evening, Friday, August 31st. I hope to see you there, it should be a fun and interesting program, plus it ends with the obligatory 1812 Overture complete with cannons!
