Category: music

“What one heard was a combination of generalized intensity, interpretive ardor and an exceptional technique. Nevertheless, the search for that elusive quality called poetry continues in Kissin’s career. You came away admiring a succession of problems variously solved, rather than gleaning any notable insights into the works performed.” – San Francisco Examiner

A male percussionist/composer with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has a thing for dressing up in drag. When he appeared onstage for a concert dressed as a women, orchestra management “read him the riot act.” But the act turned into a gig writing a piece for the orchestra for percussionist-in-drag. – Sydney Morning Herald

Time was when the Russians used to dominate international piano competitions. But this year’s Leeds International was dominated by the Italians – three of the top six finalists were Italian. – The Telegraph (UK)

Alessio Bax, at 22 the youngest of three finalists, is the first Italian ever to win at Leeds. – The Times (UK)

This year’s instrumental soloists with Canadian orchestras tend to be young, female and good looking. “Presenters aren’t interested in art any more. They’re interested in selling concerts. They’re trying to find ways that will draw an audience, and they’re following the standards of what’s happening in our general culture. The values of Hollywood have long been to misuse women and their bodies to bring in audiences.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)

The London Philharmonic held a day-long celebration to welcome Kurt Masur, the orchestra’s new principal conductor. But the performance roster was a multi-cultural stew that had virtually nothing to do with Masur’s esthetic. “What on earth is the poor man being welcomed to? An orchestra or an agenda? A concert series suited to his musical character, or a musical re-creation of the Millennium Dome?” – The Sunday Times (UK)

The Dallas Symphony recently took an extended European tour. The reviews are in, and, depending on your seat (or your publication) the critics thought it was an “indifferent,” “immaculate,” “outstanding,” or “disappointing” series of concerts. – Dallas Morning News

It’s not so easy getting recording contracts these days, even if you’re a big star. But Turkish pianist Idil Biret has been recording a prodigious amount of music – 40 CD’s for Naxos in recent years, including three complete-works multi-disk projects about to come out. – Boston Globe

John Tavener is the composer of the moment in Britain. His music is undeniably popular with the public. But he’s not exactly a fan of much music history:  “I hate progress, I hate development and I hate evolution in most things, but in music particularly,” Tavener has written. Schoenberg is “the filthy, rotten ‘dirt dump'” of the 20th century. The German tradition from Bach to Berg is a “rotting corpse” and “a hideous sound world”. – The Guardian

• Kurt Masur withdraws from two weeks of subscription concerts with the New York Philharmonic, citing health reasons. No big deal, but the orchestra’s choices to replace him happen to be two conductors rumored to be in the chase to succeed Masur as the NYPhil’s next music director. – New York Times