“A muddled concept (put into words by librettist David Henry Hwang) and a balked score by Howard Shore have left this Fly buzzing pointlessly against the pane.”
Category: music
The Fly Opera – A Monster Mash
I am at a loss to understand why “The Fly” has turned out so dreary, despite the inclusion of sex, nudity, puppetry and athleticism.
Portland Jazz Festival Canceled For Lack Of Money
“Portland is losing its prestigious jazz festival, after event organizers said they lost their major sponsor and could not find enough grants and funds to keep the annual event going.”
Stradivarius Cello To Be Auctioned Over The Internet
“The cello, which is almost 300 years old and is insured for £1.4 million, is one of about 60 surviving cellos made by the great instrument maker. It is known as the Fleming, after its most recent owner, the late British cellist Amaryllis Fleming – the half-sister of the James Bond author, Ian. The cello is thought to be one of Stradivari’s greatest achievements.”
Jazz At Lincoln Center Finds Its Footing
“Increasingly Jazz at Lincoln Center seems to be on solid footing. The average performance capacity was 92 percent in fiscal year 2008, up from 86 percent in 2006. Ticket revenue increased 13 percent over that period. The annual budget has reached $42 million, up from less than $1 million when Jazz at Lincoln Center was founded 22 years ago.”
Which Presidential Ticket Would Be Better For Music?
Well, you can look at their records and see…
What Are You Actually Getting With New Operas?
“New operas are based on world events, current movies, popular books. Their music is written by funky living composers. And yet, earnest, thoughtful and filled with worthy music though they be, they seldom find the same resonance as art films, or literary fiction. In fact, people who go to see an opera based on a book they liked often come away disappointed.”
Letting Emerging Composers Emerge
“Many of today’s repertory staples would not exist if the major musical institutions of past eras had not championed living composers. It’s not enough today for leading opera companies, orchestras and concert halls to present new works. Ideally they need to commission and showcase pieces in ways that provide them with context and galvanize public attention.”
Monk’s Little-Known But Long-Enduring Legacy
“When Thelonious Monk played with a 10-piece band at Town Hall in New York in February 1959, his music acquired new colors… Monk’s music was so personal and so perfect for small groups that the recordings of his large-ensemble collaborations with Overton in 1959 and in 1963, for another concert at Philharmonic Hall, remain underappreciated. But they left a trail that keeps getting longer.”
A Legendary Fiddle Finds A Home In Milwaukee
Thanks to collectors willing to bid up the price on instruments they will never play, top-notch violins made by masters like Stradivari are all but out of reach for most musicians today. So you can imagine how Milwaukee Symphony concertmaster Frank Almond felt when he got an e-mail out of the blue asking if he’d like the indefinite loan of a legendary Strad.