It’s been an extended break from posting with 20 performances in the last month, now on Christmas Day looking back at articles from the last few weeks, I came across yet another bright spark who has hit upon what ails Classical Music….it needs a reinvention! Yawn….Here we go again…..
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Captain, My Captain…
It is unfortunate that the average audience member frequently does not notice those people who act as “support” to the symphony orchestra of your choice. I’d like to pay homage today to someone who was the heart and soul of his organization.
A Tale Of Two Cities Redux
“Snowmageddon.” “Snownami.” Metrodome collapsing. For a Buffalo boy this is all rather unimpressive. But lost in all this was some interesting news out of St. Paul. Was it good news? Ya, you betcha!
Dissing the Dissonance…a shout out to Alex Ross!
Alex Ross wrote a great article regarding the challenge modern Classical Music faces in being accepted. It is in the middle of the article that he highlights a great point that cannot be overlooked in my view. I believe the hatred he talks about is more directed to those who present new music. As presenters we too like the composers must be creative because it is hardly fair to complain that audiences wont accept something new, when we present it as if it is a premiere happening in 1865!…..
Taxman
All I want for Christmas is The Beatles – complete. Since I have been waiting all these years for that to pop up on iTunes I get the feeling that if I’m really, really nice between now and 25 December the Fat Man might squeeze down my new chimney and provide me with the goods. Which, of course, got me thinking about the Detroit Symphony.
mmmm…that new Conductor smell!
It would be a sadly familiar scenario if 2 major orchestras are looking to their new maestros to seemingly solve all of their problems or even save their orchestras….please our egos are already big enough! We as Music Directors may be the leaders but we lead a team, and to suggest that a conductor can be the fix for major organizational problems would be akin to suggesting that an executive director can fix any major artistic problems……
Kill The NEA
I try to keep politics out of this blog but I think it is time to declare a revolutionary idea: kill the NEA.
Hobbits Found In Mid-America
So, what can The Hobbit teach us about unintended consequences? A surprising amount it turns out. Where’s Gandalf when you need him?