Category: music

John Crosby founded Santa Fe Opera in 1956 “among the high hills a few miles north of the city. Over the decades of his visionary and sometimes autocratic stewardship, Crosby evolved a trademark artistic profile that has made Santa Fe Opera one of the nation’s most distinctive companies…”

“Teenagers who listen to songs with raunchy lyrics start having sex earlier than those who listen to other types of music, according to a new study in the US.”

The period music movement has long been absorbed into the classical mainstream. But why has it not found its way into the larger American musical culture? “What comes out of obscure colleges in the middle of the Arizona desert is amazing. But this doesn’t translate into everyday musical life. I don’t know why. Maybe the structures are too rigid, or there isn’t the motivation. So American players by and large still have to come and work in Europe.”

Not Elvis. Or the beatles. Or even Michael Jackson. No, the top selling recording of all time (with room to spare) is the Eagles’ Greatest Hits (1971-75). And what does that say about us?

The Boston Symphony is replacing the 105-year-old floor of its stage. But not without some trepidation. “The maple floor has an almost mystical reputation among musicians because of its fundamental contribution to the hall’s acoustics, though in many eras the presence of risers on stage for the orchestra diminished that impact.”

The Aspen Music Festival is billing itself as “America’s Premiere Music Festival” since new CEO Alan Fletcher arrived this spring. Premiere? “Why do we segregate ourselves as classical? Newport Jazz is fantastic, but they’re sort of intermittent. Monterey? Burning Man? Lollapalooza? Who would be the premier music festival if we are not that? So, as a marketing principle, I just thought, let’s just go for it and see what people say.”

“The deal, to be announced Friday, drastically reduces upfront payments to musicians but gives them a share of future revenue, making it more cost-effective to produce recordings. It also gives the orchestras ownership of the recordings, which they can license to distributors for limited periods. In addition, the agreement strengthens the musicians’ role by giving them veto power over recording projects.”

Three intrepid British cellists have finished a 12 day marathon of performing, “which has seen them play recitals, usually on the roofs, at all 42 Anglican cathedrals in England.” And why?

Beethoven’s own violin has been used in a new recording. “It was played by German violinist Daniel Sepec on a CD of the composer’s violin and piano sonatas. The instrument, which is engraved with Beethoven’s insignia, was in his family’s possession until the early 19th Century.”

“The Internet is seizing the spotlight in the live-music business — again. A dot-com-era bid by concert promoters to market live gigs online fizzled out. But now concert Webcasts and vintage performance clips are gaining new currency. An array of players — from independent record labels to major concert promoters — are drawing up plans to capitalize on fans’ appetites for everything from the latest club shows in Hollywood to decades-old film of the Grateful Dead in Copenhagen.”