It has been an interesting day here in Charlotte so this will probably be a long post. Sit down and make yourself comfortable.
Odds & Ends
Charlotte Part I……
You know you’re back in the south when you order a beer and the very pretty bartender says “Here you go, sweetheart.”
Whistlin’ Dixie…….The Charlotte Week
Through the next week I shall be in the beautiful city of Charlotte, N.C. It will be my pleasure to return to the podium of the Charlotte Symphony for concerts this weekend. These are not normal concerts – this particular CSO is looking for a Music Director.
Surprise Gifts of the Season….
Catching my breath from the busiest holiday concert season I have ever had, there were some unexpected moments in different performances that I will forever remember, moments that truly made me feel so lucky to be doing what I do….
Go see Sweeney Todd – Sondheim should be on “the list”
Legitimacy in art has long been debated by intellectuals as to whether or not popularity equals legitimacy. I have heard it bemoaned that there have been no Operas written in the past 40 to 50 years that have become part of the regular repertoire. I would argue that the composer Stephen Sondheim like Gershwin and Bernstein before him has broken that Musical to Opera barrier even though he says he’s not a fan of Opera! For me Sweeney Todd is an Opera and Sondheim is a master composer who should be on “the list”….
The Twelve Wishes for Christmas…
Ho Ho Ho!!!! The kids are all excited because Santa is coming. If the Big Guy manages to find our snow-laden chimney this year I’m a gonna ask him for the following 12 things for Classical Music:
Silence is golden…..
This will probably be my shortest post ever. Stop reading this blog and go here for another fabulous exposé of the myth of the Concert Hall as a sacred Temple.
All roads do not lead to Rome!
Book me on the 6am, you never know what will happen in December but it will give me all day to get there if I need to find alternative routes…..
Concert in Rome NY at 8pm, Dec 10, starting point: Springfield MO.
Awake at 4:30am, 4 Airports, a cross-state car dash, an ice storm , snow, rain and semi-naked in the back of the car on the final leg! Concert Impossible!