It’s not only about cello. Really. I just read some mighty fine stuff at Stark Raving Cello and I encourage you to do the same. Every thing she writes is true and I think I should require all my students who are thinking of music as a profession to read each entry. Honest! On the [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Read! category.
Please Read
Soon there will be no recording labels in existence. What are we holding out for then? No one is making any money in classical recording any more, except for members of a few orchestras with very deep pockets (and believe me, those orchestras are throwing money down the drain simply for the prestige value of [...]
One Solution?
So is there anything that these small companies can do other than throw in the towel, close the doors and blame everyone and their cousin for the failure? Of course. These companies, it seems to me, have one chance for survival and one chance only: Announce that for the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons at the [...]
Music Is My Bag
If you haven’t read Music Is My Bag by Meghan Daum check it out. Very fun. And she played oboe, too. :-)
Batgirl
… and absolutely nothing to do with music. But I’m sorry, I can’t resist. “I keep thinking how could I have not known it was there?” Miss Hawkins said. “I will certainly be checking my bras every morning from now on.” Um, Well. Okay then. I read it here. You should read it too.
Only One
It’s a TOP TEN! (Should I be embarrassed that I don’t know any of the other titles? Hmmm.) But hoorah for Alex Ross. He’s on the top ten list. I guess it’s a good one to be reading, eh? I can tell you I’m loving the book. So read it! Really. You can listen to [...]
I Agree
We all have to figure out what we like doing for its own sake, rather than for the attention it gleans us. The college years are an optimal time to explore different studies and immerse oneself in activities that not only broaden horizons, but also kindle a whole new idea of what we may want [...]
Great Response!
Before the performance, Lady Macbeth had been interviewed by the local radio station about the forthcoming production. The interviewer had said words to the effect “Isn’t it rather presumptuous for an amateur company to be putting on Verdi’s Macbeth?” In answer, Marion just opened her mouth and sang. The interviewer was silenced. (RTWT)
No Lack Of Ego
In an interview, Mr. Alagna said he had been a cover before and also understood Mr. Melo’s disappointment, but he pointed out that sometimes a lesser-known singer can hurt his career by performing poorly as a fill-in. Mr. Alagna, smiling, then brought up the Gospel story of Jesus’ anointment with expensive perfume, when Judas Iscariot [...]
What Every Music Department Should Do
Like beauty, success is defined in the eye of the beholder. Most classical music students tend to define their future success as a career playing in orchestras, chamber groups or as a soloist. This traditional view leaves other important career opportunities overlooked, a situation Rice’s Shepherd School of Music is determined to remedy. Already known [...]
MQOD
I’m solid into the Major League Baseball season. I’ve tracked Barry Bonds all year. -Dennis Russell Davies (Well, okay, the article is really about Glass and Appomattox, not baseball. But still … ;-) RTWT)
It’s not THIS musician’s dream …
The truth of the matter is that Wagner and Mahler and Bruckner would love to have played this loud – I guarantee you. It’s like having access to your own nuclear weapon or something. It’s a musician’s dream. -Glenn Branca Branca is talking about his very loud symphony written for 100 electric guitars. You can [...]
How Never To Worry About Reeds Again
Become a conductor! I didn’t realize Sir Charles Mackerras was an oboist before he became a conductor. Now I know.
Awwwww
When the time came for his big Act 2 aria, the meltingly beautiful “Una furtiva lagrima,” (a favorite showpiece of both Caruso and Pavarotti), he stepped out of the rehearsed staging format and strode bravely to the front of the stage. Then he gestured toward Zagoroba and sang the beguiling song right to her. The [...]
I’d Stick Around
So here’s a problem for an opera company: Lead singer gets sick. The cover can’t sing that night. Major phoning goes on. Singer located. New singer arrives after a messy bit of travel woes. New singer finds out that the version is different than he thought. He can sing some of it in German. Some [...]