Category: music

An opera inspired by the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, debuts in Germany. Called “A Lady Dies,” it is a savage indictment of the news media. – BBC

Artists have been announcing protests and boycotting commitments in Austria to protest the Freedom Party’s ascent to power. But the Vienna Philharmonic has been silent on the matter. One critic asks the orchestra why. And by the way, he wants to know – what about only having one woman in the orchestra? – The Guardian

No one knows for sure the exact year the piano was born, but the Smithsonian has settled more or less on 1700. The Smithsonian has put together a suitably impressive birthday celebration for the most popular instrument in Western music. – Washington Post

Conductor Seiji Ozawa thinks so. He’s set up a school in Japan and hopes to teach students to express their passions by exploring and performing Mozart’s operas. “He hopes the undercurrents intended by the 18th century composer–be they romantic, melancholic or tragic–will stir the students enough to overcome their cultural reserve and play with more zeal.” – Los Angeles Times

Do you really have to like the artist behind a work of art? Approve of what he thought or how he lived? Certainly not. “We might have to face the fact that Shostakovich was a mediocre human being possessed of staggering musical ability.” – New York Times

Myung Wha-Chung back in Paris as head of Radio Phil and Kurt Masur said to be set to take over the Orchestre National de France. – London Telegraph

Violinist Pinchas Zukerman has taken over directing Canada’s National Arts Center Orchestra: “I’ve been cleaning up the place, it’s filthy,” he said. “It was basically the wrong people at the wrong time, or the right people at the wrong time, or the wrong people at the right time. It’s just never been right.” One thing you won’t hear him perform is music in period-instrument style: “I hate it. It’s disgusting,” he said. “The first time I heard that shit, I couldn’t believe it. It’s complete rubbish, and the people who play it. . . . Maybe one or two or a half-dozen have wonderful musical minds. But I certainly don’t want to hear them perform.” – Toronto Globe and Mail

– to make Bollywood musical called “Bombay Dreams.” – BBC

Today’s theory is that you can tell a lot about your future president by what music he listens to. George W is partial to Van Morrison and the Everly Brothers, John McCain likes the Platters, Al Gore goes for Bob Dylan, and Bill Bradley is rumored to have a thing for Bruce Hornsby. And what should that tell you? Oh well, there goes another theory. – Washington Post

Only a few months into the 21st Century, all manner of contemporary classical music for the new millennium is bursting out in Ireland. – Irish Times