Cliburn Soundoff! – Sticks and Drones

Cliburn Redux!

September 14, 2010 by Ron Spigelman

Appearing on PBS this month is the documentary from the 13th Piano competition A Surprise in Texas. I was the assistant conductor for the finals and took my Zoom H2 mike and recorded some fascinating behind the scenes audio with some of the major players including an in depth interview with conductor James Conlon and some priceless audience reaction. Click below for all of the related posts (go from bottom to top). This is the stuff that did not appear on the web or in the documentary, only here!!! CLIBURN SOUNDOFF!

The New Golden Age – Defending the Jury pt. 2

June 24, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

With so much attention being paid to Tsujii (including from me) I wanted to be sure to not overlook the other gold medalist Haochen Zhang, his extraordinary ability and unbelievable upside potential. If not breaking barriers like Tsujii he certainly dispelled a myth and if some feel that the jury took a chance with him, well they are supposed to take a chance!….

Cliburn: Striking Human Gold! – Defending the Jury part 1

June 19, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

There are so many things people are hoping for in the winner of the Cliburn. Every 4 years this veritable Piano Olympiad usually picks a winner who possesses pure virtuosity, stage presence and superb musicianship. Expectations are high for the Pianists and the pressure is intense to say the least. This year was different and also special as with both winners two myths were busted, and with one, the expectations were suddenly turned around on to us the audience……

Cliburn: An article beyond the pale…poison Iv(r)y

June 10, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

Just how far behind the times is the Wall Street Journal’s Benjamin Ivry? Close to 10 years, and bravo (not!) to him for proclaiming that the blind should not be allowed to play concertos, so does he have a problem with the deaf writing music also? You have to read his article to believe it…

Cliburn Soundoff! – It’s OVER – wrap with James and wild closing!

June 9, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

I wanted to post Monday, but it was such a blur! For the final post from this year’s Cliburn, I post the final two parts of my conversation with James Conlon, and I edited a two part audio clip of the closing ceremony complete with wild (and very frank) opinions, Van speaking, the awarding of medals and my brief interaction with the Gold medalist(s) at the closing reception. A little Rachmaninov thrown in also!!

Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon Pt.3/Comparison/FWSO/Tsujii speaks/Cliburn trail

June 7, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

Today is the big day, one more recital and two more concertos, and then the big announcement! Bob Schieffer will speak at the closing ceremony and then off to the Worthington for the party! Today James Conlon talks about the growth of the competitors throughout the week (mentions some surprises), I compare the same excerpts from Bozhanov and Tsujii’s Rachmaninov 2 rehearsals, and then in my conversation with FWSO concertmaster Michael Shih we talk about the communication with blind Japanese Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii followed by some words about that from Nobuyuki after his concerto performance. Also what to do if you are in the orchestra and don’t want to make the 60 mile round trip each day…..(One more Cliburn post tomorrow)

Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon Pt. 2/Son/Vacatello/Compare clips/Bray/Yang

June 6, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

James talks about communication between soloist and conductor, a lesson still applied by a past competitor. Vacatello and Son dress their chamber concertos. Exclusive: Another comparison this time between Zhang and Son with Prokofiev 2 (tomorrow I compare Tsujii and Bozhanov in Rachmaninov 2) and I wrap up with Buddy Bray who gets specific about the jury and speculates on what Van Cliburn is thinking. Plus the final part of my chat with Joyce Yang who shares a conversation she had with Di Wu…tomorrow more Conlon and Michael Shih concertmaster of the FWSO…Listen!

Cliburn Soundoff! – Conlon speaks/Zhang dresses/Chopin Compare/Bray/Yang

June 5, 2009 by Ron Spigelman

The heat is definitely on with an incredible night of music making, this thing is too close to call! Part 1 of my interview of James Conlon, an excerpt from Haochen Zhang and Mozart 20, a comparison of the same two spots in Chopin 1 from Bozhanov and Tsujii (this you will only get here), Buddy Bray who is inside with the Jury and Joyce Yang 2005 silver medalist here to check out the new crop…listen!